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

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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

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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.

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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

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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):

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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

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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

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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.

pdf

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

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availableat:http://www.law.yale.edu/rcw/rcw/jurisdictions/

afe/uganda/Uganda_CRC.htm

16

Bibliography

©KidsRightsFoundation,April2014

ThisreporthasbeenpreparedbytheKidsRightsFoundation(authorLydiavanderPutten,MScinInternational

DevelopmentStudies)underthesupervisionofProf.TonLiefaardandProf.JuliaSloth-NielsenLeidenUniversity,

LawSchool,DepartmentofChildLaw.

Theauthorwouldliketothankallthathaveassistedinpreparingthisreportbysharingtheirknowledgeandexpertise.

www.kidsrights.org

www.kidsrights.nl