Report on harmful practices against children based on tradition, culture, religion or superstition. It looks at the definition and scope of harmful practices from a human rights perspective, and provides examples of legal and other measures already taken to challenge and eliminate them. Makes recommendations for action by states, UN and UN-related agencies, INGOs, NGOs, national human rights institutions and others.
Document Type: Research/Reports
Safeguarding children’s rights: exploring issues of witchcraft and spirit possession in London’s African communities.
The Safeguarding Children’s Rights initiative was established in 2007 in response to concerns raised by African community groups about faith-based child abuse linked to a belief in spirit possession in London communities. This report evaluates the work of four community organisations funded by the project. Also outlines the context, including the background to witchcraft and spirit possession in the UK and the African context for child protection and children’s rights.
Child Abuse Linked to Accusations of “Possession” and “Witchcraft”
This report concerns the frequency and severity of child abuse linked to accusations of “possession” and “witchcraft”. It identifies key features common to these cases, draws conclusions and makes recommendations. The report is based on desk research and discussions with social workers, school teachers, police officers, voluntary workers and others who had knowledge of aspects of the subject.
Witchcraft, Accusations & Persecutions in Nepal: 2014 Country Report
This report, the first in a series of WHRIN country reports, focuses on the widespread violations that take place in Nepal due to the belief in Boksi (witches). At this crucial time in the evolution of the Nepalese nation state, the objective of this report is to make an important contribution in the field of human rights. Through raising awareness of this issue, we hope to be able to work with the Nepalese Government and civil society organisations to develop the solutions required to put a stop to the torture and killing of women in the name of ‘combatting witchcraft’
FGM/C in Italy: an enhanced estimation for first generation migrant women based on 2016 survey data
Migration flows of women from Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting practicing countries have generated a need for data on women potentially affected by Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. This paper presents enhanced estimates for foreign-born women and asylum seekers in Italy in 2016, with the aim of supporting resource planning and policy making, and advancing the methodological debate on estimation methods.
UNICEF Data on FGM – Brochure
This UNICEF Brochure includes information on the practice of FGM across the world, including prevalence, changing attitudes and the work that UNICEF is doing to end the practice.
A rapid literature review of evidence on child abuse linked to faith or belief
The Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre (CWRC), based at the Institute of Education, was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to conduct a small-scale review of previous research on ‘child abuse linked to faith or belief’. This will be used to help inform future policy in the area.
The Children in Need Census 2016/17
This report from the Department for Education, contains information regarding children referred to and assessed by children’s social services for the year ending 31 March 2017. This includes cases where FGM and Abuse Linked to Faith and Belief were identified.
Witchcraft Accusations and Persecution; Muti Murders and Human Sacrifice: Harmful Beliefs and Practices Behind a Global Crisis in Human Rights
This report has been specifically compiled for the United Nations Expert Workshop on Witchcraft and Human Rights, in Geneva on 21st and 22nd September 2017. It aims to provide some background understanding into the work carried out by the United Nations on these issues to date; outline the current scale of the abuses of human rights that are taking place across the world due such harmful beliefs and practices; identify emerging trends and, finally, act as a call to action for all UN, Government and civil society agencies working on these issues to redouble their efforts to develop solutions to prevent further abuses from taking place.
An Exploration of Knowledge about Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief
This groundbreaking new research investigates current knowledge and raises awareness of child abuse linked to faith or belief. Internationally, cases of child abuse linked to faith or belief (CALFB) continue to cause concern. In the United Kingdom (UK) high profile cases such as Victoria Climbie and Kristy Bamu have raised awareness of the need to develop child protection in this area. However, there are relatively small numbers of recorded cases though this data may be open to question due to underreporting and lack of recognition. Therefore, this research is timely and important in providing a foundation on which to build more effective identification of cases, policy and intervention.