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No Small SacrificeChild Sacrifice in Uganda,
in a global context of cultural violence
KidsRights Report
Executive summary
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Child sacrifice from a global perspective
2.1 Legal framework 2.1.1Culturalviolenceandchildsacrifice2.2Contextofchildsacrifice2.3Factsandfigures2.4 Government action and the role of NGOs
Section 3: Child sacrifice from a country perspective: Uganda
3.1 Legal framework 3.2Contextofchildsacrifice3.3Factsfigures,andalackofdata3.4 Challenges and underlying causes 3.5 Government action and the role of NGOs
Section 4: Conclusions and recommendations
Bibliography
Table of contents
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Table of contents
Everyweek,childreninUgandadisappearwhenparentsaren’twatching.Later,childrenarefounddeadoralive,withbloodorbodypartsmissing.Inmanyofthesecases,partswereremovedbywitchdoctorswhenthechildrenwerestillalive,inaceremonialritualofsacrifice.
Suchsacrificialrituals,andthesubsequentwearing,buryingoreatingofachild’sbodyparts,arethoughttobringbusinesssuccess,personalprosperityandhealth.Middle-classclientsoftenbeginwithstandardherbalremediesandanimalsacrifices,butaresubsequentlypersuadedbywitchdoctorstopartwith a large sum of money for “Big Blood”.
ThispracticeisnottraditionalinUganda;ithasembeddeditselfwithintraditionalcustomsinrecenttimes,andcasescontinuetorise.ItisalsoreportedinTanzania,Uganda,Nigeria,Swaziland,Liberia,Botswana,SouthAfrica,NamibiaandZimbabwe.Mostcrimesgounreported,anddespiteUganda’santi-witchcraftlaws,mostwitchdoctorsactwithoutfearofprosecution.
Many of the rights enshrined in the Convention on theRightsoftheChildareviolatedbythepracticeofchildsacrifice.TheAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild,whichUgandaadoptedin1991,isalsocontravened.Ugandaranks137thoutof165countriesintheKidsRightsIndex,ameasurementforthenationalimplementationofchildren’srights;it is noted that government resources allocated for childrenare“verylimitedandinsufficient”.
TheWitchcraftActmakeswitchcrafttechnicallyillegalinUganda,butdraftedduringcolonialtimes,theactlacksmoderncredibilityandisrarelyenforced.In2009,theAnti-HumanSacrifice
TaskforcewascreatedwithintheUgandanpolice,butitlackstheresourcesandmanpowertomonitorandinvestigatecasesofchildsacrifice.AccordingtoUNICEF,itexistsinnameonly.Witchdoctors,favouredbytherisingmiddleclasses,havepowerfullinkswiththoseinpositionsofpowerinUganda,andthelackofresourcesmayalsoreflectalackofpoliticalwill.
Roughly80%ofpeopleindevelopingcountriesdependupontraditionalmedicinefortheirprimaryhealthcareneeds.InUganda,therearearound650,000registeredtraditionalhealers,andanestimated3millioninpractice.Hiddenamongthesearetheunscrupulouswitchdoctorswhoperformviciouscrimesinthenameofhealing.Duetoinsufficientdataandthoroughresearch,therealscopeofthespreadofchildsacrificeisnotyetvisible.ButisassuchexpectedtobefarmorewidespreadintheUgandasociety.
Change cannot come soon enough. There is an urgent need for additional research and data collection todisclosetheprobablywidespreadchildsacrificepractices.ThegovernmentofUgandamustensurethatchildsacrificeisdealtwithbyaneffectivesystemofcriminalprosecution.Traditionalhealersmustbeproperlyregulated,andthehealersthemselvesencouragedtospeakoutagainstthecrimescommittedintheirname.TheAnti-HumanSacrificeTaskforcemustbeproperlyequippedtocarryoutitsdutiesandtopursueeverycaseofchildsacrificetoprosecution.Finally,measuresmustbeputinplacetoensurethatvictimsofchildsacrificearesupportedmedically,emotionally,sociallyandmaterially,astheylivewiththeconsequencesofthemostunthinkablecrime.
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
1
2
Violence occurs in many different forms across the world,atwork,school,inthecommunityandathome. Children are more often victims of violence thanadults,becausetheyaredependentonothersfortheirdailycare.TheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsgiveseveryindividual–includingchildren–therighttoalifefreefromallformsofviolence.
ViolenceisdefinedinArticle19oftheConventionon the Rights of the Child (CRC) as: “all forms of physicalormentalviolence,injuryandabuse,neglectornegligenttreatment,maltreatmentorexploitation,includingsexualabuse”.
Childsacrificeisaformofviolencebothphysicalandmental.Itisnotconsideredaglobalissue,butisrootedintheculturalandsocialpracticesofspecificworldregions.ChildsacrificeiscurrentlyreportedinAfricancountriesincludingTanzania,Uganda,Nigeria,Swaziland,Liberia,Botswana,SouthAfrica,NamibiaandZimbabwe.1
Sacrificeisperformedinordertoreconcilewiththegods.Thisisawidelyknownphenomenonallovertheworld,involvingfood,animalsandotherproducts.However,insomecases,humansarethesubjectofsacrifice.Thepurertheoffering,thebetter;makingchildrenmorevulnerabletosacrificethanadults.Furthermore,theyaremucheasiertolure into danger.
Sacrificialritualsareperformedtomaintaingoodrelationswiththespirits.Ritualkillingsarebelieved,forexample,tobringhealthandprosperity,ortosettlequarrels.Inthisreport,childsacrificewillbedefinedastheharmfulpracticeofremovingachild’sbodyparts,bloodortissuewhilethechildisalive.Thesecanbeworn,buriedorconsumedbyanindividual,whobelievesthepracticewillbringthemwealth,goodfortune,andblessingsfromancestors.
Sacrificerequiresbloodandcertainbodyparts,includingorgans,limbs,genitals,eyes,teeth,
fingers,thetongueortheheart.Theprocessofremovingthesebodypartsoftenhappenswhilethechildisstillalive.Thepartswillthenbeusedinmedicinesormixedwithherbs.AccordingtoKyampisiChildcareMinistries,“Manyofthesechild survivors are carrying with them serious and disturbinglifescarsandinjurieswhichincludecompletegenitalmutilations,castration,deepwoundstabs,missingtongues,ears,aswellasemotionalandpsychologicalscarsthatneedlifetimehealing.”2
Childsacrificeritualsareperformedbywitchdoctors,whopracticeacombinationoftraditionalmedicine,religiousritualsandmedicalprocedures.ItisbelievedinAfricathatwitchdoctorscan,throughmagicandspells,influenceanindividual’sfuture.Thisgivesthemsignificantpowerwithintheircommunities.
Witchdoctorsoperateinareaswherepeopleusetraditionalmedicine,whichisdefinedbytheWorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)as:
“includingdiversehealthpractices,approaches,knowledgeandbeliefsincorporatingplant,animaland/ormineralbasedmedicines,spiritualtherapies,manualtechniquesandexercisesappliedsingularlyorincombinationtomaintainwell-being,aswellastotreat,diagnoseorpreventillness”.3
TraditionalmedicineisgenerallyavailableandcommonlyusedinlargepartsofAfrica,AsiaandLatinAmerica.WHOestimatesthatwhilethepercentagevariesfromcountrytocountry,roughly80%ofpeopleindevelopingcountriesstilldependupontraditionalmedicinefortheirprimaryhealthcare needs.4
Misfortuneisregularlyblamedbywitchdoctorsonthespirits.First,herbalremediesandanimalsacrificesareoftentried.Butifthesedonotbringaboutachangeincircumstances,childsacrificecanbeproposed.Theclientispersuadedthatthebody
Section 1: Introduction
Introduction
3
partsofachildwillmakethemagicritualmorepowerful;theactofremovingthebodypartsitselfformingapartoftheritual.Thewitchdoctorwillarrangetheabductionandsacrificeofthechildinexchange for a large sum of money.
Mostchildrenarenotgivenupwillinglyforsacrificebytheirparentsorcarers.Instead,theysimplygomissing,abductedbythewitchdoctororbyhisorherassociate.Thesacrificialritualisnotdiscovereduntilthebodyisfoundinadesolateplace,orthe
childsurvivesthesacrifice.Bothboysandgirlsareattackedfortheirbodyparts;thereisnocleargenderpreference.
Thefirstchapterofthisreportlooksatviolenceagainstchildren–andchildsacrificeinparticular–fromaglobalperspective;outliningthelegalframework,andkeyfactsandfigures.ThesecondchapteraddressesthesewithparticularreferencetoUganda.Thereportconcludeswithrecommendations.
4
Introduction
2.1 Legal frameworkIn1948theUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightswasadoptedbytheUnitedNations.Thisdeclaration,of30articles,iscommittedtoprotectingandpromotingthehumanrightsofeveryindividual.Thatincludeschildren,whoareentitledtoenjoyalltherightsguaranteedbythevariousinternationalhumanrights treaties which have since evolved from the original Declaration.
Althoughchildrenarecoveredbytheseinternationaltreaties,theinternationalcommunityrecognisedthespecificneedfortheprotectionandpromotionofchildren’srightsin1989,withtheConventionontheRightsoftheChild(CRC).TheCRCappliestoallchildrenbelowtheageof18,andcontains54articlescoveringalmostallaspectsofthelifeofachild.Thesearticlesaregroupedinthefollowingthree categories:
• Provision:thesearetherightstotheresources,theskillsandservices;the“inputs”thatarenecessarytoensurechildren’ssurvival,andthedevelopmentoftheirfullpotential;
• Protection:thesearetherightstoprotectionfromactsofexploitationorabuse,inthemainbyadultsorinstitutionsthatthreatentheirdignity,theirsurvivalandtheirdevelopment;
• Participation:thesearetherightsthatprovidechildrenwiththemeansbywhichtheycanengageinthoseprocessesofchangethatwillbringabouttherealisationoftheirrights,andpreparethemforanactivepartinsocietyandchange.5
AllStatesthathaveratifiedtheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChildareboundtothisconventionbylaw.TheonlyStatesthathavenotratifiedtheCRCareTheUnitedStatesofAmerica,andSomalia.Article15oftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsdefinestherighttoalifewithoutviolence:
The right of the child to freedom from all forms of violenceisenshrinedinArticle19oftheCRC:
TheUnitedNationsSecretary-General’sStudyon Violence against Children6 addresses violence againstchildreninfivesettings:thefamily,schools,alternativecareinstitutionsanddetentionfacilities,placeswherechildrenworkandcommunities.Thesefivesettingsillustratethecomplexityofviolenceagainstchildren,whichcanhappenindifferentsettings and take various forms. There are various riskfactorssuchaseconomicdevelopment,socialstatus,ageandgenderwhichcancontributetoanincreased risk of violence against children. The most prevalentandoccurringformofviolenceagainst
Section 2: Child sacrifice from a global perspective
Child sacrifice from a global perspective
5
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 15Nooneshallbesubjectedtotortureortocruel,inhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment.
Convention on the Rights of the Child , Article 191. StatesPartiesshalltakeallappropriate
legislative,administrative,socialandeducationalmeasurestoprotectthechildfromallformsofphysicalormentalviolence,injuryorabuse,neglectornegligenttreatment,maltreatmentorexploitation,includingsexualabuse,whileinthecareofparent(s),legalguardian(s)oranyotherpersonwhohasthecare of the child.
2. Suchprotectivemeasuresshould,asappropriate,includeeffectiveproceduresfortheestablishmentofsocialprogrammestoprovidenecessarysupportforthechildandforthosewhohavethecareofthechild,aswellasforotherformsofpreventionandforidentification,reporting,referral,investigation,treatmentandfollow-upofinstancesofchildmaltreatmentdescribedheretofore,and,asappropriate,forjudicialinvolvement.
childrenischildabuse.TheFederalChildAbusePreventionandTreatmentActdefineschildabuseas“Anyrecentactofaparentorcaretakerwhichresultsindeath,seriousphysicaloremotionalharm,sexualabuseorexploitationofachild”.7Thetablebelowprovidesanoverviewoftherightsthatmaybeviolated when children encounter violence.
In1999theAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild(ACRWC)enteredintoforce,adoptedbytheOrganisationofAfricanUnity(nowAfricanUnion).TheACRWCbuildsonthesamebasicprinciplesastheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChild,butpaysparticularattentiontoissuesofspecialimportancetoAfrica.Africaisinfacttheonlycontinentintheworldwitharegion-specificchildrights instrument.
2.1.1 Cultural violence and child sacrificeThreearticlesintheACRWCaddressviolenceagainstchildren,whichisregardedasakeytheme.Thevariousformsofviolenceincludephysical,emotional,psychological,financial,andcultural.Cultural violence occurs when the child is harmed asaresultofpracticescondonedbytheirculture,
religionortradition.TheACRWCcontainsprovisionsdirected at the elimination of harmful traditional practicesincludingfemalegenitalmutilationandscarification.
TheprotectionofchildrenagainstharmfulsocialandculturalpracticesisaddressedinArticle21:
Theconsequencesforchildrenwhohavebeenexposedtoviolencevaryaccordingtoitsnatureandseverity.Short-andlong-termrepercussionsofviolencecanhaveamajorimpactonthechild,andcancausesocial,emotionalandphysicalproblems.Thepracticesoffemalegenitalmutilation,honourkillingsandchildsacrificearecategorisedascultural violence.
2.2 Context of child sacrifice ChildsacrificeiscurrentlyreportedinvariouscountriesinAfrica,includingTanzania,Uganda,Nigeria,Swaziland,Liberia,Botswana,SouthAfrica,NamibiaandZimbabwe.9Theritualofchildsacrificeis,inmostcases,performedbyawitchdoctor.Witchcraftistheartofinvokingmagicalpowerorthepracticeofattemptingtodoso.ThefollowingfigureshowsitsstatusinanumberofAfricancountries(BBC,2010):
6
Child sacrifice from a global perspective
Rights violated by violence against children • Therighttobeprotectedfromallformsof
physicalormentalviolence,injuryorabuse,includingsexualabuse(Article19)andfromallformsofsexualexploitation(Article34).
• Therighttoprotectionagainstallformsofexploitationaffectinganyaspectofthechild’swelfare(Article36).
• Childrenwhohavebeenneglected,abusedorexploitedshouldreceivespecialhelptophysicallyandpsychologicallyrecoverandreintegrate into society. Particular attention shouldbepaidtorestoringthehealth,self-respectanddignityofthechild(Article39).
• The government should take all measures possibletomakesurethatchildrenarenotabducted,soldortrafficked(Article35).
• The right of a child when he/she has experiencedviolencetoreceivespecialhelpin ordertorecoverfromthis(Article39).8
ACRWC, Article 21: Protection against Harmful Social and Cultural Practices1. StatesPartiestothepresentChartershall
takeallappropriatemeasurestoeliminateharmfulsocialandculturalpracticesaffectingthewelfare,dignity,normalgrowthanddevelopmentofthechildandinparticular:(a)thosecustomsandpracticesprejudicialtothehealthorlifeofthechild;and(b)thosecustomsandpracticesdiscriminatoryto the child on the grounds of sex or other status.
Asthegraphshows,witchcraftismostuniversallyacceptedinTanzania,where93%ofthepopulationbelieveitworks.Thebodypartsofpeoplewithalbinismarebelievedtoincreasethepowerofwitchdoctors’magicpotions,leavingalbinochildrenatmostriskofritualsacrifice.InUganda,however,thereisnosuchemphasisonalbinochildren.
Reportedcasesofchildsacrificerevealthatchildrenaremostlyambushedontheirwaytoschool,ortakenfromthehomewhileunsupervised.Inneithercaseistheparentpresent.Asapreventativemeasure,someparentschoosetopiercetheearsoftheirchildren,whichisbelievedtomakethemlesspure,andthereforelessattractivetowitchdoctors.
2.3 Facts and figuresViolence against children can occur anywhere in the world. Some of those forms of violence are rooted ineconomic,socialandculturalpractices.Childabusecanbeseenallovertheworld.Otherformsof violence like female genital mutilation and child sacrificeareassociatedwithspecificregions.Thesearealsoreferredtoasculturalviolencebecausetheyareperpetuatedinthenameoftraditionandculture,andareassociatedwithspecificregions.Thereisalackofreliabledataonchildsacrifice,but
thestatisticsbelowgiveanindicationofthescopeofother forms of cultural violence:• UNICEFestimatesthatinsub-SaharanAfrica,
EgyptandSudan,3milliongirlsandwomenaresubjectedtofemalegenitalmutilationeveryyear10
• TheHonourBasedViolenceAwarenessNetworkestimates that there are 5000 honour killings internationallyperyear11
Violenceagainstchildrencanbehidden,andbothchildrenandperpetratorsmayacceptphysical,sexualandpsychologicalviolenceasinevitableandnormal.“Everyday,millionsofchildrenareaffectedbyconflict,sufferfromviolence,neglect,abuseandexploitationathome,inschools,ininstitutions,inthecommunityandinplaceswheretheywork”(UNICEF,2006).
Thatviolenceagainstchildrencanbehidden,andevenculturallyaccepted,makesitdifficulttoquantify.The2006UNICEFworldreport,“ViolenceagainstChildren”,statesthat“Only a small proportion of acts of violence against children is reported and investigated, and few perpetrators held to account”(UNICEF,2006).Insomecasesofviolencetheperpetratorsarestrangers,butinmostcasestheyarepartofthechild’sdirectenvironment;parents,neighbours,teachersandemployers.Inthecaseofchildsacrifice,thewitchdoctoroftenworkswith an associate.
Child sacrifice from a global perspective
7
“Thereisalargegapbetweenwhatweknowaboutviolenceagainstchildrenandwhatweknowshouldbedone.Weknowthatviolenceagainstchildrenoftencauseslifelongphysicalandmentalharm. We also know that violence erodes the potentialforchildrentocontributetosocietybyaffectingtheirabilitytolearnandtheirsocialandemotionaldevelopment.Giventheimportanceofchildrentoourfuture–wemustplace“preventing”violenceagainstchildrenamongourhighestpriorities.”JamesA.Mercy,EditorialBoardoftheUNSecretary-General’sStudyonViolenceagainstChildren(UNICEF,2006).
People beleving in withcraft
Tanzania
DRC
South Africa
Nigeria
Kenya
Christians
Muslims
0 20 40 60 80 100%
*
2.4 Government action and the role of NGOsTheCRCestablishesthefollowingrelevantduty-bearersforguaranteeingchildrentheirrights(SaveTheChildren,2007):1. TheState(arts.2.2,3.2and37)2. Parents,legalguardiansandindividualslegally
responsibleforchildren(art.3.2)3. Institutions,servicesandfacilitiesforthecareand
protectionofthechild(art.3.2)
TheStatehasprimaryresponsibilityforensuringthatchildrenareprotectedfromviolence.Article37oftheCRCsaysthat“Statepartiesshallensurethatnochildshallbesubjectedtotortureorothercruel,inhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment.”Statesarethereforerequiredtotakeappropriatelegislativeandadministrativemeasures,andtoplayakeyroleinprovidingtreatmentandrehabilitationprogramsforchildrenwhoareaffectedbyviolence.Becausechildsacrificeisaregionalratherthanaglobalproblem,theroleofthestateisevenmorecrucial.
AlmostallstateshaveratifiedtheCRC,butfewhave given their legal framework a thorough review with regard to violence against children. Should the correctlawsbeputinplace,thereisstillaquestionoftheirenforcementinpractice.TheindependentexpertwholedtheUnitedNationsstudyonviolenceagainstchildren,ProfessorPinheiro,haswritten:
“Thebestwaytodealwithviolenceagainstchildrenistogetatthesource,beforeitisconducted.Everyoneplaysarole.Butthegovernmentisprimarilyresponsible.Thiswill
ensure that all violence against children is a criminaloffence,regardlessofwhereandbywhomitiscommitted.”(Pinheiro,UNStudyViolenceagainstChildren,2006).
Althoughthegovernment’sresponsibilityisparamount,otherstakeholdershaveanimportantroletoplay.Non-GovernmentalOrganisations(NGOs)performaswatchdog,oraspartner,inareassuchas:• Advocacyforimprovedlegislationandadequate
statebudgets• Campaignsofsensitisation,educationand
information• Serviceprovisiontovictimsandperpetratorsof
violence,includingcaselitigation,psychosocialandmaterialsupport,medicalandothertreatments,aswellasservicestoprofessionals(e.g. training)
• Research,includingcasestudiesandfocusgroups.12
In2007theInternationalNGOCouncilonViolenceAgainstChildrenwasformedinresponsetotheUNReportonViolenceagainstChildren.Thisdemonstrates the central role of NGOs in monitoring casesofviolenceagainstchildren,providingdirectaid,andidentifyingandtransmittinginformationfromlocalareastothecentresofpower.ManyNGOsparticipateactivelyinmonitoringtheCRC,andpresenttheirfindingstotheUNCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild,ascomplementaryreportsorshadowreports.Withregardtoculturalviolenceinspecificregions,NGOscanplayacrucialroleinresearch and sensitisation.
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Child sacrifice from a global perspective
3.1 Legal framework: UgandaUgandaisamemberoftheUnitedNationsandoftheAfricanUnion.TheUgandangovernmentcommitteditselfin1991toprotectingandensuringchildren’srights,byagreeingtoundertaketheobligationsoftheCRC.Inthesameyear,thegovernmentofUgandaalsosignedtheAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild(ACRWC).
Currently,thefollowingregulationsmakechildsacrificeillegalinUganda(ANPPCAN,2010):• TheConstitutionofUganda,article22(1),says
thatnopersonshallbedeprivedoftherighttolife.Further,article24requiresrespectforhumandignityandprotectionfrominhumantreatment:“nopersonshallbesubjectedtoanyformoftortureorcruel,inhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment”.
• TheChildrenAct2000saysthatanypersonwhoisthe carer of a child must maintain the child and protecthimorherfromdiscrimination,violence,abuseandneglect.Moreover,itmakesillegalanysocialorcustomarypracticesthatareharmfultothechild’shealth.
• ThePreventionofTraffickinginPersonsAct2009makeshumansacrificeillegal.Anypersonwhoisconvictedofchildsacrificecanbesentencedtodeathbythecourts.
• TheWitchcraftAct1957prohibitsactsofwitchcraft that involve threatening others with death.Convictionsleadtoprisonsentencesofuptofiveyears.TheWitchcraftActmakesprovisionforthepreventionofwitchcraft,aswellasthepunishmentofpersonspractisingit.
• Article19oftheCRCandArticle16oftheAfricanChildren’sCharter(Protectionfromallformsofviolence)determinesthechild’srighttobeprotectedfrombeinghurtandmistreated,physicallyormentally.Governmentsshouldensurethatchildrenareproperlycaredforandprotectthemfromviolence,abuseandneglectbytheirparents,orbyanyoneelsewholooksafterthem.
• AnAnti-HumanSacrificeandTraffickingTaskforcehasbeencreatedwithintheUgandanPolice.Thistaskforceisresponsibleforinvestigationandprosecution,aswellassensitisingthepublictohumantraffickingandchildsacrifice.
TheWitchcraftActwasdraftedandimplementedduringcolonialtimesandneedstoberevisedandupdated.Theactisespeciallyfocusedonprotectingchildren,agroupthathasbeenparticularlyvulnerabletothepracticeofhumansacrificinginUganda.
3.2 Context of child sacrifice Africahasalonghistoryoftraditionalhealing,whichisstillwidespreadacrossthecontinentandinUganda.Mosttraditionalhealersuselivestockfortheirsacrificialactivities.AreportbythePulitzerCentreonCrisisReportingstatesthat“childsacrificehasslowlyembeddeditselfwithintraditionalcustoms,althoughitisnotgenuinelyrelatedtothelocalculture”.AccordingtotheJubileeCampaign’sreport,‘ChildSacrificeinUganda’,“childsacrificialritualsareemployedbyfraudulenttraditionalhealersinameanstoextortlargesumsofmoneyfrompeoplewithalmostnoriskorconsequenceforthoseinvolvedincarryingoutthecrime.”(JubileeCampaignandKyampisiChildcareMinistries,2011:36).
Section 3: Child sacrifice from a country perspective: Uganda
Child sacrifice from a country perspective: Uganda
9
Witchcraft Act, Uganda (1957)Anyperson,otherthanapersoninauthorityactinginthecourseofhisorherduty,inwhosepossessionorcontrolanyarticleusedinpractisingwitchcraftisfound,otherthanbonafideforscientificpurposesorasacurio,commitsanoffenceandisliableonconvictiontoimprisonmentforaperiodnotexceedingfiveyears(UgandaLegalInformationInstitute,1957).
AcombinationofthefollowingfactorsreinforcesthepracticeofchildsacrificeinUganda;• Anti-witchcraftlawhasrarelybeenenforced,
reducingfearofpunishmentamongwitchdoctorsengaginginchild-traffickingandritualmurders.
• Thelackofdifferentiationbetweentraditionalhealersandthoseimpersonatingthemundermines the work of genuine traditional healers.WitchdoctorsexploitthegeneralacceptanceinUgandaoftraditionalmedicine.
• Peoplebelievethatsacrificingachildcouldbringgoodluck,wealthorhealth.
• Thereisaknowledgegapaboutchildsacrificeandthedangersassociatedwithit,aswellaschild rights issues in general.
TherecentriseofchildsacrificeisoftenlinkedtotheeconomicdevelopmentofUganda.PastorPeterSewakiryanga,thefounderoftheKyampisiMinistrieschurch,stressesinaninterviewwiththeBBC:
“Childsacrificehasrisenbecausepeoplehavebecomeloversofmoney.Theywanttogetricher.Theyhaveabeliefthatwhenyousacrificeachildyougetwealth,andtherearepeoplewhoarewillingtobuythesechildrenforaprice.Sotheyhavebecomeacommodityofexchange,childsacrificehasbecomeacommercialbusiness.”13
ManypeopleinUgandabelievethatawitchdoctorcanbringthembusinesssuccess,goodfortuneorgoodhealththroughtheperformanceofaritual.Ifthisdoesn’twork,thewitchdoctorcanconvincethemthattheonlywaytopleasethegodsistosacrificeahumanbeing.InUgandathisisknownas‘BigBlood’;afterthefirstsacrificeofchickenorgoathasfailed,comesBigBlood–childsacrifice.(JubileeCampaignandKyampisiChildcareMinistries,2011).
ANPPCANUgandastressestheurgeforgovernmentinterven¬tiontocounterchildsacrifice.In2009,duetotherisingnumberofcases,theUgandangovernmentestablishedtheAnti-HumanSacrificeTaskforce.ThepolicetaskforcewasestablishedincooperationwiththeUSgovernment,inordertosharespecialisttrainingandexpertise(ANPPCAN,
2010).Unfortunately,inpractice,theAnti-HumanSacrificeTaskforceoftenlackstheresourcestoinstigateinvestigations.Itsnationwidepreventativepotentialisalsoseverelycurtailedbyavailablemanpowerandresources;itlackstransport,forexample,toaccessremoteareasofthecountry(JubileeCampaignandKyampisiChildcareMinistries,2011).AccordingtoUNICEF,theAnti-HumanSacrificeTaskforceeffectivelyexistsinnameonly(UNICEF,2013: 93).
3.3 Facts, figures and a lack of data UgandaislocatedinEasternAfrica;neighbouringcountriesincludeSouthSudan,Kenya,Tanzania,RwandaandtheDemocraticRepublicofCongo.InJuly2013,thepopulationofUgandanumbered34.7millionpeople,ofwhom48.9%werechildrenbetween0and14yearsold.14
Ugandaranks137thoutof165countriesontheKidsRightsIndexoverallscore.TheKidsRightsIndexisaglobalmeasurementtoolwhichrankscountriesonthebasisoftheiradherencetochildren’srights.Theindexisbasedonfivedomainswhicharenecessaryfortheimplementationofchildren’srights:therighttolife,health,education,protectionandchildrightsenvironment.15
ChildsacrificeisagrowingprobleminUganda,accordingtothereport‘ChildSacrificeinUganda’(JubileeCampaignandKyampisiChildcareMinistries,2011:36).TheAfricanNetworkforthePreventionandProtectionagainstChildAbuseandNeglect(ANPPCAN)confirmsthatchildsacrificehasincreasedinUgandaoverthelastfiveyears.16Accordingtothe2009UgandaPoliceReportonhumansacrifice,15casesofchildsacrificewerereported,comparedwithjustthreecasesin2007.Butmostcasesdonotfindtheirwaytopolice;thereportnotesthatin2009,outof123missingpersons,90(73%)werechildrensuspectedtohavebecomevictimsofhumansacrifice.17
HumaneAfricaconductedresearchontheincidenceofchildsacrificein25communitiesinUganda’sCentral,EasternandWesternregions.Theycalculate
10
Child sacrifice from a country perspective: Uganda
that“Theseweeklymutilations,confirmedwithwitnessaccountsmakeitpossibletoestablishabaselineforincidentsrelatingtochildmutilationandsacrificeinUganda”(HumaneAfrica,2013).TheresearchtookplaceduringfourmonthsbetweenJuneandSeptember2012.Duringthisperiod,20casesofchildsacrificeoccurredinthese25communities.(HumaneAfrica,2013).Furthermore,childrenbetweentheagesof3and18yearswerethemostvulnerable(HumaneAfrica,2013).
Childsacrificeisaverysevereformofviolence,leadingtomajorinjuriesortodeath.Ifachildsurvivestheritual,theimpactisenormous.Thechildcanhavemajorinjuriescausedbytheremovalofbodyparts,andtheemotionalconsequencesofabduction,followedbyexperiencingsuchaprocedure,cannotbeunderestimated.
“Itookoneglanceatmychildandcouldn’ttakeanotherlook.Hedidn’thavearmsandhislegshadbeencutoff,theheadwasontheothersidefromthebody.Iwascryinguncontrollably,IImaginedthepainhemusthavegonethrough.Itmademesadas a mother that someone could kill an innocent childlikethat”.Victim’smother,MasakaDistrict.HumaneAfrica2013.
ThereportsoftheUgandaPolice(2009)andHumaneAfrica(2013)arejustanindicationofthe‘topoftheiceberg’.Duetoinsufficientdataandthoroughresearch,therealscopeofthespreadofchildsacrificeisnotyetvisible.Butcouldbehuge,seeingit’scorrelationwithwide-spreadwitchcraftpractices.
3.4 Challenges and underlying causes Onechallengetotheeradicationofchildsacrificeisthefaithwhichpeopleplaceinwitchdoctors.Inordertoperformasacrificeinvolvingthebodypartsofachild,thewitchdoctordemandsalargesumofmoney.AccordingtoHumaneAfrica:
“povertyisastrongdriverwhenitcomestopeopleconsultingwitchdoctors.Individualsaredesperatelytryingtoevadepovertyandthefrustrationsandpoorlifeconditionsassociatedwithit.Theyarethereforesusceptibletothewitchdoctorsoffersofimprovedhealthand/orfinancialsituation”(HumaneAfrica,2013:29)
ThisalsoappliestotheexpandingmiddleclassinUganda,whichlookstoritualstogainmoreprosperity.
Witchdoctorsareoftenhighlyrespectedbytheircommunities and have strong ties with local and nationalpoliticiansandgovernors.Thiscreatesacontextinwhichwitchdoctorscanoperatewithlittle or no risk of facing trial for their actions. Inordertocounterthis,aworkingsystemofprosecutionforreportedcasesofchildsacrificeneedstobeestablished.Forthistowork,asystemofaccountabilityisrequired,fromthegroundup.Sufficientresourcesalsoneedtobemadeavailable;amajorchallengeinUganda.TheKidsRightsIndexDomain5:‘ChildRightsEnvironment’notesofUgandathatit“isconcernedthattheresources allocated for children are very limited and insufficienttorespondtonationalandlocalprioritiesfortheprotectionandpromotionofchildren’srights”.18
Furthermore,ifachildsurvivesasacrificialritual,thereareinsufficientresourcestosupporthimorher.ThisisconcededinUganda’sowninitialreporttotheUNCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild:
“Existingchildren’sinstitutionsareinadequate,formalfosteringisstillnotdevelopedowingtocultural and economic limitations. The greater problemisthatProbationandWelfareOfficershavenoresources,theyarefewandtherefore
Child sacrifice from a country perspective: Uganda
11
“I took one glance at my child and couldn’t take another look. He didn’t have arms and his legs had been cut off, the head was on the other side from the body. I was crying uncontrollably, I Imagined the pain he must have gone through. It made me sad as a mother that someone could kill an innocent child like that”. Victim’smother,MasakaDistrict.HumaneAfrica2013.
cannotadequatelysolvetheproblemsofthechild’sfamilyandthoseofthechild.”19
ThedearthofprosecutionsforcrimesofchildsacrificeareamajorobstacletotheworkoftheAnti-HumanSacrificeTaskforce.Inordertoincreaseprosecutionrates,resourcesarerequired.Withoutprosecutions,instancesofchildsacrificewillcontinue to rise.
3.5 Government action and the role of NGOsResourcesandfundingarerequiredtoenablecriminalprosecution,andtoraisepublicawareness.RegistrationoftraditionalhealershasalsobeenpinpointedbytheNGO,AdvocatesforHumanDignity,asanarearequiringattention.In2013therewerearound650,000registeredtraditionalhealersinUganda,whileinrealitythereareanestimated3
millionpractisingtraditionalhealers(AdvocatesforHumanDignity,2013)Thisdiscrepancyinregistrationmakes it harder to trace the witch doctors among thetraditionalhealers,andtoestablishwhethertheyperformchildsacrificerituals.
TherearevariousNGOsinUgandawhichmonitorchildsacrificeandraisepublicawarenessabouttheissue;reportswhichhavebeencompiledaboutchildsacrificetendtobemadewiththeircooperation.In2009,KyampisiChildcareMinistries(KCM)wasestablished,andaswellasprovidingchildrenwithhealthandeducationservices,itcampaignsvocallyforanendtochildsacrifice.KCMhasestablishedrelationshipswithorganisations,churches,thepolice,thegovernmentandvictimsofchildsacrifice.IthasalsocooperatedwiththepoliceforceofUgandatoinvestigatethecasesofchildrenthoughttobevictimsofchildsacrifice.
12
Child sacrifice from a country perspective: Uganda
Childsacrificeviolatesthemostfundamentalofhumanrights:therighttolife,andtherighttobeprotectedfromallformsofphysicalviolence.Nonetheless,casesofchildsacrificecontinuetobereported.Thosechildrenwhosurvivetheritualbearseriousphysicalinjuries,aswellashorrendousemotionalscars,bothofwhichaffecttheirfutureprospectsinlifeandwork.
Childsacrificeisbothphysicallyandmentallyviolent,andisrootedinculturalandsocialpractices.Ratherthanbeingaglobalphenomenon,itisrootedinparticularregionsinAfrica,wherechildsacrificeisacontemporaryrelatively unknown issue. InUgandathemajorityofpeoplebelieveinthepoweroftraditionalmedicine.Childsacrificeisoftencarriedoutbywitchdoctorsforafee,toincreasethefortunesofmiddleclassclients.HumaneAfricahasuncovered“weeklymutilationsconfirmedwithwitnessaccounts”.Duetoinsufficientdataandthoroughresearch,therealscopeofthespreadofchildsacrificeisnotyetvisible.ButisexpectedtobefarmorewidespreadintheUgandasociety.
Section 4: Conclusions and recommendations
Conclusions and recommendations
13
Global Recommendations: • Datacollectionmethodsneedtobeimproved,
asmostcurrentcasesofchildsacrificeareunreportedandthereforenotproperlyinvestigated.
• Nationalgovernmentsmustestablishclearprinciplesandprioritiesfortheeliminationofchildsacrifice.
Recommendations for Uganda:• There is an urgent need for additional research
anddatacollectiontodisclosetheprobablywidespreadchildsacrificepractices.
• ThegovernmentofUgandamustensurethatchildsacrificeisdealtwithbyaneffectivesystemofcriminalprosecution.
• SufficientresourcesandmanpowerfortheAnti-HumanSacrificeTaskforceisneededaswellasstrategicplanningonanalysisofsystematicdata.
• AppropriateregulationoftraditionalhealersinUgandaisnecessary,toprovideprotectionforclients,andtoholdhealersaccountableforunlawfulacts,includingchildsacrifice
• Traditionalhealersmustbeencouragedtospeakoutagainstritualsofchildsacrifice.
• Victimsofchildsacrificemusthaveaccesstoadequatepsychosocialandmaterialsupport,andmedicalandothertreatments,suppliedbythegovernment.
14
• AdvocatesforHumanDignity.CombatingChildSacrificeinUganda.2013.Onlineavailableat:http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://advocatedignity.org/1340-2/page/7
• AfricanNetworkforthePreventionandProtectionagainstChildAbuseandNeglect(ANPPCAN).ChildSacrifice.December2010.Onlineavailableat:http://www.anppcanug.org/wp-content/uploads/press_releases/PR_Child_Sac_epid_fest_elect_period.pdf
• BBC. Ten Things We Have Learnt About Africa. BBC.April2010.Onlineavailableat:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8620249.stm.
• HumaneAfrica.Child Sacrifice and the Mutilation of Children in Africa.2013.HumaneAfrica.Onlineavailableat:http://www.whrin.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Child-Sacrifice-and-the-mutilation-of-children-in-Uganda.pdf
• JubileeCampaignandKyampisiChildcareMinistries. Child Sacrifice in Uganda.2011.JubileeCampaignandKyampisiChildcareMinistries.Onlineavailableat:http://www.jubileecampaign.co.uk/documents/child-sacrifice-report.pdf
• MinistryofGender,LabourandSocialDevelopment.Rapid Assessment on Child Sacrifice in Uganda. Informing Action.November2009.Onlineavailableat:http://www.anppcanug.org/wp-content/uploads/research_reports/Rapid_Assess_Prac_of_Child_Sac_2009.pdf
• Save The Children. Children and Gender-based Violence. An Overview of Existing Conceptual Frameworks. Save The Children. 2007. Onlineavailableat:http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/sites/default/files/documents/1530.pdf
• TheOrganizationofAfricanUnity.African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.November1999.Onlineavailableat:http://acerwc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ACRWC-EN.pdf
• UgandaLegalInformationInstitute.TheWitchcraftAct.UgandaLegalInformationInstitute.1957.Onlineavailableat:http://www.ulii.org/ug/legislation/consolidated-act/124
• UNICEF.TheAdolescentGirlsVulnerabilityIndex.GuidingStrategicInvestmentInUganda.2013.Onlineavailableat:http://www.unicef.org/education/files/PGY_AGI_Uganda_2013(1).pdf
• UnitedNations.World Report On Violence Against Children.TheUnitedNationsSecretary-General’sStudy.2006.Onlineavailableat:http://www.unicef.org/violencestudy/
• UnitedNations.Adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Committee on the rightsofthechild.June2003.Onlineavailableat:http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/898586b1dc7b4043c1256a450044f331/504f2a64b22940d4c1256e1c0042dd4a/$FILE/G0342724.pdf
General online sources
• ChildRightsInternationalNetwork(CRIN).Onlineavailableat:http://crin.org/
• UNICEF.Onlineavailableat:http://www.unicef.org/endviolence/
• SpecialRepresentativeoftheSecretary-GeneralonViolenceagainstchildren.Onlineavailableat:http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/
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Endnotes:
1 HumanRightsBrief.Onlineavailableat:http://hrbrief.
org/2012/09/the-practice-of-ritual-killings-and-human-
sacrifice-in-africa/
2 KyampisiChildcareMinistries.Onlineavailableat:http://
kyampisi.org/?page_id=133
3 AfricanHealthObservatory.Onlineavailableat:http://
www.aho.afro.who.int/en/ahm/issue/13/reports/overview-
traditional-medicine-situation-african-region
4 AfricanHealthObservatory.Onlineavailableat:http://
www.aho.afro.who.int/en/ahm/issue/13/reports/overview-
traditional-medicine-situation-african-region
5 Children’sRightsinWales.Onlineavailableat:http://www.
childrensrightswales.org.uk/uncrc-articles.aspx
6 UNICEF.Onlineavailableat:http://www.unicef.org/
violencestudy/
7 ChildwelfareInformationGateway.Onlineavailableat:
https://www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/federal.cfm
8 UNICEF.Onlineavailableat:http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/
Rights_overview.pdf
9 HumanRightsBrief.Onlineavailableat:http://hrbrief.
org/2012/09/the-practice-of-ritual-killings-and-human-
sacrifice-in-africa/
10 UnitedNations.Onlineavailableat:http://www.unicef.org/
violencestudy/reports.html
11 HonourBasedViolationsAwarenessNetwork,2012
12 ChildRightsInternationalNetwork.Onlineavailableat:www.
crin.org/docs/NGO_Guidelines_reporting_VAC_to_CRC_2008.
13 WashingtonTimes.Onlineavailableat:http://communities.
washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/rights-so-divine/2012/
jan/17/worst-form-human-trafficking/
14 CentralIntelligenceAgency.Onlineavailableat:https://www.
cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
15 TheKidsRightsIndexisajointinitiativeoftheKidsRights
FoundationandErasmusUniversityRotterdam;ErasmusSchool
ofEconomicsandInternationalInstituteofSocialStudieswww.
kidsrightsindex.org
16 AfricanNetworkforthePreventionandProtectionagainst
ChildAbuseandNeglect.Onlineavailableat:http://www.
anppcanug.org/child-sacrifice-epidemic-during-festival-and-
election-period/
17 AfricanNetworkforthePreventionandProtectionagainst
ChildAbuseandNeglect.Onlineavailableat:http://www.
anppcanug.org/child-sacrifice-epidemic-during-festival-and-
election-period/
18 KidsRightsIndex.Onlineavailableat:http://www.
kidsrightsindex.org/Portals/5/pdf/Domain%205%20Child%20
Rights%20Environment%20Scoretable.pdf
19 CommitteeontheRightsoftheChild,InitialReportofState
Partiesduein1992:Uganda,P.93(June17,1996),online
availableat:http://www.law.yale.edu/rcw/rcw/jurisdictions/
afe/uganda/Uganda_CRC.htm
16
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©KidsRightsFoundation,April2014
ThisreporthasbeenpreparedbytheKidsRightsFoundation(authorLydiavanderPutten,MScinInternational
DevelopmentStudies)underthesupervisionofProf.TonLiefaardandProf.JuliaSloth-NielsenLeidenUniversity,
LawSchool,DepartmentofChildLaw.
Theauthorwouldliketothankallthathaveassistedinpreparingthisreportbysharingtheirknowledgeandexpertise.
www.kidsrights.org
www.kidsrights.nl