In July 2021, the UN Human Rights Council passed Resolution 47/8 on the Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks (HPAWRA). This marked the culmination of many years’ work by stakeholders internationally, but it also marks the beginning of the next phase of implementation.
The Resolution expresses concern that “harmful practices related to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks have resulted in various forms of violence, including killings, mutilation, burning, coercion in trafficking of persons, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and stigmatization” It urges states to “condemn and take all necessary measures to eliminate HPAWRA, whilst being mindful of the need for the recognition and protection of individual freedoms to manifest religion and/or belief.”
This conference asks: How should we respond to Resolution 47/8? How do we ensure that States respond? What is already being done and what more needs to be done to implement the Resolution? What is the role of civil society in supporting implementation? What can be learned from local, regional, national or international responses to this issue? What can we learn from the past about effective responses to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks? What can we learn from other Resolutions, for example, on FGM and other harmful practices? We are keen to hear about successful initiatives and experiences, as well as the challenges of responding.
Join us for our thought-provoking Conference focused upon how states, organisations, communities and individuals can find ways to respond to Resolution 47/8 in impactful ways. Register here.
Our Conference programme is available here.
Organising committee: Professor Charlotte Baker (Lancaster University, UK), Professor Miranda Forsyth (Australian National University), Dr Samantha Spence (Staffordshire University, UK), Dr Leethen Bartholomew, Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond (UN Independent Expert on the Rights of Persons with Albinism), Alice Markham-Cantor, Louis Pulford (Lancaster University, UK).