The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) has on Thursday 12th November, brought to the attention of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Right the gross human rights violations that are committed in The Gambia and some African countries because of the fear of witchcraft across the continent.

In their statement read by Mr. Leo Igwe, at the 46th ordinary Session of the African Commission at Sheraton Hotel, said the belief on witchcraft is strong, common and widespread in Africa. He said that over the years, claims of witchcraft have been used to abuse the universally recognised human rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Mr. Leo stated that in many African countries, to call somebody a witch automatically makes the person unqualified for human rights protection. He argued that to accuse somebody of witchcraft is like passing a death sentence on that person. He indicated that those accused of witch craft are tortured, persecuted and killed. He added that those people are subjected to cruel, inhuman and de-grading treatment by gangs, mobs, pastors, witch doctors, parents and family members in the name of exorcizing or to elicit confessions.
Mr. Leo asserted that those alleged to be witches and wizards are victims of jungle justice, extra-judicial killing, forced exile and disappearance. He posited that in African those abused in the name of witchcraft are mainly the vulnerable members of the population, the poor, the elderly, women, children and people with disabilities. He added that IHEU has received reports of witchcraft related human rights abuses in many counties across the region.
Mr. Leo pointed out that in The Gambia, the government agents and some witch doctors raided villages and homes, abducted hundreds of mainly elderly persons alleged to be witches and wizards, took them to some secret locations where they were force to drink concoctions. He stated that as a result some died after taking the substance, while others developed several health complications. He added that the state condoned witch hunt is in breach of Gambia’s human rights obligations under the African Charter.
In Malawi, Leo said a Magistrate’s Court has convicted two people for practicing witchcraft. He posited that in October, Emily (62) and James Kunjes (68) were sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour for killing two members of their community through magic. He asserted that in Kenya, at least 15 women suspected to be witches were killed last year in a deadly witch hunt that occurred in some parts of the country. He added that relatives of those alleged to be witches and wizards continue to live in fear.
He said in the Democratic Republic of Congo, thousands of children alleged to be witches and wizards have been driven out of their homes and forced to roam the streets.
In Nigeria, Leo said in the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, children accused of witchcraft are abandoned, beaten, slashed with knives, bathed with acid or lynched by parents, family and community members. He said some of these so call children witches are claimed and starved, some have been tortured to death by unscrupulous pastors during deliverance ceremonies.
He added that human right activists working to defend the rights of those accused of witchcraft has been at risk. He said rights defenders have suffered attacks, threats, intimidation and harassment. He asserted that in July, agents of a self-proclaimed witch exercise and founder of the liberty Gospel Church, Helen Ukpabia, raided a centre for the rehabilitation of child victims in Eket in Akwa Ibom State. He also stated that they attacked the organizers of a child rights conference in Calabar in Cross River State.
In Ghana, Leo said women accused of witchcraft are attacked, persecuted and killed. He stated that some of them fleeing persecution have taken refugees at a camp in Gambaga in the Northern Region. He pointed out that those alleged to be witches and wizards suffered similar fates in Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leon, Liberia and so on. He indicated that the witch hunts in many African countries are not isolated attacks but an organised campaign, a silent and systematic elimination of any body alleged to be a witch or a wizard.
Mr. Leo urged and calls on the African Commission to issue a resolution condemning witch hunts and witchcraft related rights abuses in Africa.
He stated that IHEU request the Special Rapportour on the Rights of Women in African, on Refugees, Asylum Seekers and internally displaced persons in Africa, on Human Rights Defenders in African to raise issues concerning witchcraft related abuses with State parties during their promotional mission.
IHEU calls on the government of The Gambia Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South African, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Liberia to fulfill their commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights by improving the quality of education, law enforcement and the justice system. IHEU urges all State parties to take all necessary legal and administrative measures to combat all human rights abuses that are committed in the name of witch hunts.