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Faith and belief-based child abuse, including practices around ‘spirit possession’ and ‘witchcraft’, is a hidden crime, which makes it difficult to quantify in terms of magnitude.
Forms of abuse
Abuse can be separated into five different areas;
abuse as a result of a child being accused of being a ‘witch’
abuse as a result of a child being accused of being possessed by ‘evil spirits’
ritualistic abuse which is prolonged sexual, physical and psychological abuse
satanic abuse which is carried out in the name of ‘satan’ and may have links to cults
any other harmful practice linked to a belief or faith
The forms of abuse that follow fall into the four main categories below.
Physical abuse
This can involve ritualistic beating, burning, cutting, stabbing, semi-strangulating, tying up the child, or rubbing chilli peppers or other substances on the child's genitals or eyes.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse can occur in the form of isolation. A child may not be allowed near or to share a room with family members, and threatened with abandonment. The child may also be persuaded that they are possessed.
Neglect
In situations of neglect, the child’s family and community may have failed to ensure appropriate medical care, supervision, education, good hygiene, nourishment, clothing or warmth.
Sexual abuse
Children who have been singled out in this way can be particularly vulnerable to sexual abusers within the family, community or faith organisation. These people exploit the belief as a form of control or threat. (taken from the Met Police website)
Domestic abuse victims will receive a wide range of new measures to protect them in what ministers say will be landmark legislation.
'Landmark' overhaul for domestic abuse laws
bbc.com
A new definition of abuse will include economic harm, manipulation and controlling behaviour.More CCTV images have been released by police investigating the rape of an 18-year-old woman in a park in Southampton.
New CCTV in hunt for park rapist
bbc.com
Police previously released footage of a man walking behind the victim shortly before the attack.