The belief in ‘possession’ and ‘witchcraft’ is widespread although the number of known child abuse cases linked to accusations of ‘possession’ or ‘witchcraft’ is small.
In ‘possession’ cases the parent/carer views the child as ‘different’, attributes this to the child being ‘possessed’ and attempts to exorcise the child. The reasons for being ‘different’ may be disobedience, independence, bedwetting, nightmares, illness or disability. The attempt to exorcise may involve beating, burning, starvation, cutting/stabbing and/or isolation within the household.
‘Witchcraft’ is the belief that a child is able to use an evil force to harm others. There is a range of terminology connected to such beliefs – black magic, kindoki, ndoki, the evil eye, djinns, voodoo, obeah, and child sorcerers. In all known cases, families, carers and the children can hold genuine beliefs that evil forces are at work. Families and children can be deeply worried by the evil that they believe is threatening them. There may also be an element of the adult gaining some advantage through the ritualistic abuse of the child which may even result in the death of the child.
Belief is not confined to particular countries, cultures or religions. Nor is it confined to new immigrant communities in the UK.
While the number of known cases of abuse related to spiritual or religious belief is small, agencies should be alert for possible indicators, and apply basic safeguarding children principles to prevent it. Where it occurs, the impact on the child is substantial, distressing and the child is at risk of significant harm. It is also possible that a significantly large number of cases remain undetected.
Key considerations are:
- Child abuse is never acceptable in any community or culture, under any circumstances.
- Child abuse linked to a belief in spirit possession usually stems from a child being used as a scapegoat, the underlying reasons for the abuse often being due to factors such as family stress, deprivation, domestic violence, substance abuse and or mental health problems
- Links, where they exist, between individual cases of such child abuse and wider belief, faith or community practices should be identified. Where connections are identified and appropriate action taken, the risk that other children will be similarly abused can be greatly reduced.
- Standard child safeguarding procedures apply and must be followed in all cases where abuse or neglect is suspected including those that may be related to a belief in spirit possession or witchcraft
- Practitioners need to have an understanding of religious beliefs and cultural practices in order to help gain the trust of the family or community. Practitioners should seek advice if dealing with a culture or set of beliefs that are unfamiliar.
Ref:
DCSF Safeguarding Children from Abuse Linked to a Belief in Spirit Possession
‘Good Practice for Working with Faith Communities – Spirit Possession & Abuse (Churches Child Protection Advisory Service)
Working Together 2010 Chapter 6 Para 6.49 – 6.53
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE:-
Indicators of abuse linked to belief in spirit possession, which may also be common features in other kinds of abuse, include:
- a child’s body showing signs or marks, such as bruises or burns, from physical abuse;
- a child becoming noticeably confused, withdrawn, disorientated or isolated and appearing alone amongst other children;
- a child’s personal care deteriorating, e.g. through a loss of weight, being hungry, turning up to school without food or lunch money, or being unkempt with dirty clothes
- it may be directly evident that the child’s parent or carer does not show concern for or have a close bond with the child;
- a child’s attendance at school becoming irregular or the child being taken out of school altogether without another school place having been organised, or a deterioration in a child’s performance at school;
- a child reporting that they are or have been accused of being ‘evil’, and/or that they are having the ‘devil beaten out of them’.
