End Human Rights Abuses Against Alleged Witches

Dear Readers

The quarter has been a very impactful one, as SONGTABA brings to cherish donors’ worm seasonal greetings from Ghana and brings updates on the project End Human Rights Abuses Against Persons Accused of Witchcraft. Throughout November to 10^th of December was the 16 days of activism where Songtaba in collaboration with other civil society organisations to launched a campaign on ending gender-based violence and creating more public awareness on the dangers of violence.

During this quarter, SONGTABA collaborated with other likeminded human rights organizations across the globe in celebrating this year 16 days of activism in Tamale to end all forms of gender based violence. The celebration brought together some of the allege witches, women groups, media and the youth with the theme” Ending Femicide, physical, sexual and emotional abused”. The celebration was used to highlighting the poor and dehumanizing conditions that alleged witches live in as well as depression the poor quality of life that they are faced with.in the various camps in Ghana.

It offer the allege witches an opportunity to engage various stakeholders to have a sustainable ways of ending gender based violence such as the drafting of by-laws from both traditional and religious leaders in most of the feeder communities. They also as a matter agency added their voice to the ongoing call for the passage of an anti-witchcraft law to protect and prevent women and girls against future accusations.

This 16 day of activism was used to build alliance with interested groups especially the youth who are mostly in fore front of abusing suspected alleged witches. These youth groups were mobilized to organize street flash mob exercises to educate the public on the dangers caused by false accusations as well how to respect the rights of persons accused of witchcraft. Key advocacy messages were developed and matched round principal street of the Northern Regional Capital and made accessible to the public.

The campaign was climaxed with a media engagement forum where all the civil society organization part of the event, youth groups women groups and the alleged witches engaged the media and issued a statement to government with very clear demand of passage of the an-witchcraft law.