ORAL STATEMENT
Humanists International
UN Human Rights Council, 52nd session (27 February – 4 April 2023)
General Debate 3
We welcome the report of the UN High Commissioner on human rights violations related to accusations of witchcraft.[1]
I make this statement on behalf of Humanists International and our member organization, Humanists Malawi.
As the report notes, tackling witchcraft-related violence requires addressing its root causes, which include high-levels of poverty and illiteracy. Malawi is both one of the poorest countries in the world, and one where witchcraft belief is deeply-rooted.[2]
We are concerned that Malawi is currently considering a legal amendment to recognize the existence of witchcraft in line with ‘Malawian beliefs.’[3] This approach is misguided. Access to justice for alleged witches is already severely limited because many law enforcement and policy officials themselves believe in witchcraft.[4]
By providing further legitimacy to the idea that ‘witchcraft’ exists, the government risks further stigmatizing those denounced as ‘witches’, normalizing impunity for witchcraft-related violence, and undermining the work of civil society organizations.
As we emphasized in our recent joint written submission, children’s equal right to education, including access to a curriculum that promotes a scientific temper and critical thinking skills, is an essential tool that will empower individuals to reject harmful superstitions.[5]
We call on Malawi, as a member of this Council, to heed the report’s recommendations, and to develop an effective strategy that addresses the harmful superstitions underlying witchcraft accusations, rather than engage in needless fear mongering.
I thank you.
Endnotes
[1] A/HRC/52/47
[2] According to one survey by Afrobarometer, three in four Malawians (74%) believe “a lot” in the existence of witchcraft, while almost three-fourths (72%) of Malawians say witchcraft should be criminalized, available at: https://www.afrobarometer.org/articles/most-malawians-believe-in-the-existence-of-witchcraft-and-support-criminalising-it/
[3] https://news.mijmw.com/humanists-worried-as-over-half-of-malawians-believe-witchcraft-exists/
[4] https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/women/cfi-witchcraft-hrc52/witchcraft-HRC52-cso-International-Humanist-and-Ethical-Union-et-al.docx
[5] https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/women/cfi-witchcraft-hrc52/witchcraft-HRC52-cso-International-Humanist-and-Ethical-Union-et-al.docx
'Witchcraft related human rights violations in Malawi', Humanists International