WUNRN
Voodoo,
Witchcraft & Human Trafficking in Europe
Direct Link to Full 15-Page 2013
Document:
Witchcraft is typically defined as the ability to harm someone through the use of mystical power.1 However, only African witchcraft falls within the scope of this paper, specifically its manifestations in Europe.2 The belief in witchcraft is not itself problematic but its practices may be result in human rights violations.3 Crimes in the name of witchcraft, such as the murder and mutilation of albinos in magic rituals or aggressions against alleged witches, are examples of the violent manifestations of the beliefs and practices of witchcraft in Africa.4
The growing numbers of Africans in Europe has led to the proliferation of marabouts – traditional African priests –offering advice on how to obtain love and money or achieve success in business, get rid of the evil eye or heal diseases. Also, in some African communities children are being accused of practicing witchcraft and voodoo threats have become one of the characteristic of African sex trafficking networks.
This paper focuses on human rights violations linked to African witchcraft which are occurring in Europe. It is organized in three sections. The first section examines threats toward alleged child-witches; the second examines the misuse of voodoo to enslave women for sexual purposes; and the third will look at the mistreatment and sexual abuse of children or women as part of witchcraft rituals.
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