Child Abuse - Witchcraft and Spirit Possession

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Child Abuse - Witchcraft and Spirit Possession

• Local Authority Designated Officer/Training and
  Community Partnership Officer Aqualma Murray
• Detective Sergeant Vicky Washington
• Detective Constable Ben Voss

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• A child is likely to suffer a degree of neglect
  and/or physical, sexual and emotional abuse as a
  direct result of
• the actions and beliefs of the adults and others
  who perceive them as possessed with evil

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2000 Anna/Victoria Climbié
You could beat her and she would not cryshe
could take the beatings and the pain like
anything. Victorias Carer
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2001 Adam/Ikpo Mwosa
The headless, limbless body of a boy aged between
five and six was found floating in the river
Thames
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2008 Khyra Ishaq
Khyra dropped down as she walked after a spirit
got into her body, it was evil and it was trying
to control her body because Khyra had accepted it
as a friend Sibling
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CASE STUDY Child B 2003
"She pulled out a little knife and she did little
marks on me. I was bleeding. The three of them
surrounded me and one kicked me, one slapped me
and one pushed me. I asked myself, what have I
done?"
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Stab Wound
Bruises
43 Injuries
All Historical?
Scarring
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Case Study - Child B Significant Findings
Diary entry 16 Nov 2003 in Lingala At church
a prophecy was given that Child B has witchcraft.
DNA showed that none of defendants were the
mother although 3 were maternal relations.
Expert witness in 'witchcraft' provides evidence
Churches that Child B attended were identified
but no evidence to prosecute.
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Case Study - Child B Outcomes
TRIAL June 2005 3 defendants guilty of Child
Cruelty 2 main defendants received maximum
sentence (10yrs)
National Guidelines published in consultation
with Project Violet
Partnership Team formed
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Common Features
Physical Abuse Emotional Abuse Sexual
Abuse Neglect
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Physical Abuse

• Beating, Burning, Cutting, Stabbing,
  Strangulation.
• Drowning
• Application of chilli or similar to eyes or
  genitals
• Feeding non-edible substances/Starvation
• Amputation

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Emotional Abuse?

• Locked away from others
• Child being prayed over for long periods
• Exorcism or Deliverance
• Sleep deprivation
• Threat of Abandonment
• Separated from family
• Persuading child they are possessed

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Sexual Abuse

• A child labelled as evil/possessed is often
  isolated and then vulnerable to sexual
  abuse/sexual exploitation
• Rituals may include sexual acts

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Neglect

• Failure to obtain appropriate medical care
• Failure to ensure appropriate schooling/education
• Failure to provide a suitable home environment
• Failure to meet the childs hygiene needs

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How become evil/possessed?

• Infected by others who are evil
• Infected by eating contaminated food
• Become possessed by evil spirits that have flow
  round them
• By displaying negative behaviour they attract
  evil
• A perceived difference to their family or
  community

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Difference to Family/Community

• Physical disability
• Autism
• Mental Health
• Speech Impediment
• Bed wetting
• Rebelliousness

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Who provides the belief ?

• Indigenous Healer
• Faith Healer
• Privately Contracted Spiritualist
• Church pastor

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Terminology

• Kindoki
• Ndoki
• Evil Eye
• Dijinns
• Voodoo
• Obeah

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Indicators

• Injuries
• Change in childs behaviour
• Change in childs appearance
• Childs carers show a lack of affection, bond or
  interest
• Language used by child in disclosures i.e devil
  beaten out of them

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Strands of Investigation

• Immediate Family
• School Childs attendance and behaviour
• Health Injuries and Illnesses
• Police Victim, Informant or suspect.
• Neighbours unusual behaviour or patterns
• Place of Worship and denomination
• Immigration movements of the child
• Interpreter? Independent and outside family
  network
• Other family members?

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AIMS

• Develop prevention opportunities for children
  abused through a belief in spirit possession.
• Raise awareness within practicing communities and
  statutory agencies.
• Develop intelligence opportunities

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Remember

• This is not about persecuting people's beliefs,
  but about safeguarding children