Child Sacrifice - Uganda Facts For Reference

‘CHILD SACRIFICE’ ISSUE 

The practice is not new in Uganda, with isolated cases reported from time to time. During the past 3 years the issue has been more widely reported; however, it is unclear why the number of cases has jumped. The practice is linked to superstitious beliefs and harmful traditional practices that one can derive wealth by sacrificing young children. It is commonly described in Uganda as an activity of witchcraft, thriving in situations where a people who believe in this practice believe in wealth creation through traditional means, often at the expense of human life.

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According to the 2008 Uganda Police Crime Report, ritual murders rose by over 800% from the previous year, with children emerging as the most targeted victims. Earlier this year, an inter-ministerial Anti-Child Sacrifice/Human Trafficking Task Force, under the Uganda Police, was set up to combat ritual murders. Since the beginning of this year, over 100 cases of suspected ritual murders have been recorded with the Police in different parts of the country. The victims were mainly children, and the alleged perpetuators are mainly business people acting on the advice of traditional healers. The trends are as follows: In 1999: In 2006: In 2007: In 2008: In 2009:

15 children were reportedly killed through ritual murder. 230 children disappeared. 103 children disappeared. 318 children disappeared and 18 of these were confirmed by the police to have been killed through ritual murder. No figures available but the number is approximately 15 children. (The 2009 figures are from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and for accuracy could be cross-checked with the police crime statistics).

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There is no independently verified information on the exact number of children ritually murdered each year apart from the figures given above. However, local media reports indicate that the “number of child victims is increasing.”

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Government, as shown by the efforts of the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development and the National Council for Children, is working to address it. A recent draft rapid assessment on Child Protection in Uganda, commissioned by the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (dated November 2009), also indicates that “child sacrifice cases are on the increase”.

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Despite evidence that all children, including those under the care of their own parents, are susceptible to child sacrifice, children without parental/adult care and oversight – e.g. orphans, abandoned children, street children, out-of-school children and children involved in child labour –are considered to be particularly vulnerable to child sacrifice.

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The police have apprehended several suspects who are currently being prosecuted in accordance with the law. Ritual murder, like any other forms of murder is covered under the Penal Code Act (on murder and infanticide). In addition, there is a law on witchcraft (Witchcraft Act 1957).

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As for regulation of traditional healers, there is no evidence that the ritual murders are carried out by traditional healers. Traditional healers on the other hand have their associations and regulate the actions of their members. Nevertheless, individual ritual murderers seem to link their activities with traditional healers. The other challenge is the thin line between traditional healers and witch doctors/ diviners. Herbalists in Uganda are known to dispense medicines while witch doctors are linked to the spiritual world and they demand different kinds of sacrifices, including human. It is common practice for such people to advertise their services through the media.

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From the draft rapid assessment, it is proposed that community and school-based structures be equipped to intervene for both prevention and response addressing child sacrifice within the context of children rights violations.

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It has also been recommended that current psychosocial interventions be reviewed to address the needs of survivors, their families and families of children who have been victims of child sacrifice.

UNICEF RESPONSE 

UNICEF takes every report of violence against children seriously. One act of violence alone justifies a response -- a response involving the participation of all sectors including government, UN system, NGOs, civil society and communities themselves. Violence against children is both a gross violation of human rights of children and a significant public health issue. UNICEF's Global Child Protection Strategy has identified harmful traditional practices (child sacrifices is one of these practices) as one of the main causes of violence against children and is working to strengthen social communications to ensure social changes of the norms that drive such practices.

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UNICEF and its partners have been providing both technical and financial support to health and law enforcement authorities and civil society organizations to provide both prevention and response services. As part of this process UNICEF is supporting the police, and members of civil society and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in the development of national action plan to combat such harmful traditional practices through the use of communication for social change, better police for prevention and support for child victims (who survive an attempt) and witness. UNICEF is also working with a consortium of agencies to set up a hotline to report missing children and other forms of gross child rights violation.

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Child sacrifice is also closely associated with child trafficking which is also high on UNICEF Global Child Protection agenda. It is suspected that many children reported missing are likely victims of child trafficking and/or child sacrifice.

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UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, the National Council for Children and Civil Society Organizations to respond to the problem. UNICEF has also supported civil society organizations led by ANPPCAN (African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect) Uganda Chapter, Plan International and the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN) to develop a multimedia campaign to address key child protection issues through public information. The campaign targets the traditional healers association, religious leaders, policy makers, schools, the Police and other partners as key

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agents for change.

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