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News and Views: Accusations of Witchcraft

Nepal: Increase in Witchcraft Accussations and Abuse

April 4, 2012
ActionWorks Nepal

In Nepali society, currently, the Violence Against Women, particularly at the name of custom is increasing dramatically. About a month ago, a woman killed was accused of witchcraft in Chitwan. That case hasn't received justice yet.

In this shocking alleged witchcraft scenario, another woman was beaten seriously and her both eyes were broken.

Accusations of Sorcery Still Drive Women from their Homes in Africa.

September 12, 2011
Newsweek

It was Pakpema Bleg’s own family who first accused her of practicing witchcraft.

Her nephew had accidentally pricked his finger on a needle, and the finger swelled up with infection. Bleg hadn’t been there. But the next morning, she says, her brother-in-law arrived outside her house. “Witch!” he allegedly bellowed for all her neighbors to hear. “Witch!” Then, her nephew’s older brother began beating her, she says, and soon others in the village joined in.

Papua New Guinea: Violence Against Women Accused of Sorcery

December 6, 2011
UN OHCHR
The belief in black magic, sorcery, evil spirits and witches is widespread in the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea: this superstition is called Saguma.

Saudi Arabia: Woman Convicted Of 'Sorcery' Executed

December 12, 2011
Huffington Post

Saudi authorities have executed a woman convicted of practicing magic and sorcery. The Saudi Interior Ministry says in a statement the execution took place Monday, but gave no details on the woman's crime.

Burkina Faso: Free Legal Aid for Women Accused of being Witches

November 19, 2010
TrustLaw

PARIS (TrustLaw) - What links a British-based law firm to an initiative aimed at protecting women in Burkina Faso from accusations of witchcraft?

The answer's global pro bono work.

Earlier this year, a charity caring for older people, HelpAge International, asked Advocates for International Development (A4ID) to help with its work in, among others, Burkina Faso where it's been trying to raise awareness about the plight of women who've fallen victim to witchcraft allegations.

UN HRC: Witches in the 21st Century

August 24, 2009
OHCHR

Throughout history, people described as witches have been persecuted, tortured and murdered and the practice continues today. Statistics are not easy to come by but it is known that every year, thousands of people, mostly older women and children are accused as witches, often abused, cast out of their families and communities and in many cases murdered.

Tanzania - Villages Program to End Witchcraft Accusations

June 30, 2011
Help Age International

Imagine living in a community your whole life. Then suddenly, you are accused of witchcraft and told to leave. Or you are sent threatening letters saying you have bewitched a neighbour's child. Or you are attacked and slashed with a machete during the night.

Malawi: Witchcraft Legal Aid in Africa

February 17, 2011


NEW YORK — Accusations of witchcraft in Africa have gained increasing attention because of the severe impact they can have on the lives of those accused, including imprisonment, deprivation of property, banishment from villages and in some cases physical violence.

The human-rights law program I direct recently partnered with an N.G.O. in Malawi to run a mobile legal-aid clinic focusing on witchcraft cases in two rural communities.

Nigeria: Children accused of witchcraft

August 28, 2010

Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria (CNN) -- Just after midnight, the pastor seized a woman's forehead with his large hand and she fell screaming and writhing on the ground. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" shouted the worshippers, raising their hands in the air.

Pastor Celestine Effiong's congregants are being delivered from what they firmly believe to be witchcraft. And in the darkness of the city and the villages beyond, similar shouts and screams echo from makeshift church to makeshift church.

"I have been delivered from witches and wizards today!" exclaimed one exhausted-looking woman.

Nepal: Witch Tag Only on Dalits, Minorities

December 13, 2009
IPS News

Nepal: Witch Tag only on Dalits, Minorities
By: Mallika Aryal

Witches in the 21st Century

UNHCR - UN Refugee Agency

Direct Link to 44-Page 2009 Document:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900sid/RWST-7RAL7E/$file/unhcr-jan2009.pdf?openelement

Nepal: Dalit Woman Accused as Witch - Severly Abused

Women's Feature Service
http://www.wfsnews.org/
India - New Delhi

Nepal: Dalit Woman Accused as Witch - Severly Abused

By Renu Kshetry

NEPAL: Women tortured for being 'witches'


A large number of women are victims to the witch hunt practice in Nepal

Woman faces execution for 'witchcraft'

March 3, 2008
Human Rights Watch

A leading human rights group appealed to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Thursday to stop the execution of a woman accused of witchcraft and performing supernatural acts.

Woman faces execution for 'witchcraft'

February 2, 2008
Human Rights Watch

A leading human rights group appealed to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to stop the execution of a woman accused of witchcraft and performing supernatural acts.