Helping the "Witches" of Africa

Because this subject is in the news once again, I thought I'd rerun this older post.  


Updated to add: I posted this last year as part of Touchstone Advocacy's 30 Days of Advocacy Against  Witch-hunts.  Please join them on Facebook or at their website.

False accusations of witchcraft run rampant in Africa right now.  The accusations are based on a variety of things, including everything from  traditional religious practices to jealousy and from babies with colic to children with autism.

You might have read a post or two here about the "witches" of Malawi.  You might skim over the news articles I've posted on the CPSM facebook page.  Now is the time that you can get involved and help get this information out into the world. 


So what can you do to bring awareness of the witch hunts still going on all over the world?  Read about what's going on and educate yourself.  Write a blog and educate others.  Join a campaign, sign a petition, write letters, make a donation.  


As long as there are people in the world who are unsafe from the accusations of witchcraft, none of us are truly safe.


Here are some links for  more information:


Articles (and more) to read: 

• Witchcraft Legal Aid in Africa
• Missionaries May be Encouraging Accusations of Witchcraft (Via Christianity Today)
• Did Missionaries Trigger the Witch-Hunts (Via The Wild Hunt)
• Witchcraft and Statecraft by the Georgetown Law Journal (downloadable PDF)
• Read the children's book  Eno's Story, about a child accused by a family member of witchcraft. 50% of the purchase price goes to Stepping Stones Nigeria.
• Watch the documentary Return to Africa's Witch Children

Sites to visit (and donate to) and campaigns to join:

• PACT: "Prevent Abuse of Children Today (PACT) is a global campaign that aims to give a voice to the voiceless and bring about long-term change for the Nigerian child, particularly those at risk of child rights violations including witchcraft-related abuse and trafficking."
• Stepping Stones Nigeria: "There are numerous so-called pastors in the region who are wrongly branding children as 'witches' mainly for economic self gain and personal recognition. We therefore call for all people of all faiths to stand up and support the fight to protect innocent children from the abuse that is caused due to the belief in child witchcraft."
• Join the Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network 

Donations to make and letters to write: 

• Make a donation to Stepping Stones Nigeria (a UK based charity) by adding their name into the "charity name" section of the donation form at American Fund for Charity. 
• In UK, donate right at the Stepping Stones Nigeria website.
• Donate through my Just Giving page.
• Write letters to help the children of Nigeria

And while this post mainly focuses on Africa, don't forget these things happen in other parts of the world as well:

• Boy killed in London by family members over witchcraft claims
• Woman beheaded for witchcraft (Saudi Arabia)
• Rampant Witch Killings in Orissa District Causes Concern (India)
• Gaza Woman Murdered for Witchcraft
• Fawza Falih (Saudi Arabia)
• Haitian Cholera Epidemic Sparks Witchcraft Killings
• Tribal Woman Killed by Nephew in Witchcraft Case (India)
• Three brother's lynched, buried alive for witchcraft (Bolivia)
• Ali Sibat (and others, Saudi Arabia)

This is post  copyright to the author.  It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!