Witchcraft-Based Child Abuse Action Plan Lanched

The Government has launched an action plan designed to tackle witchcraft and religiously based child abuse following high profile cases such as Victoria Climbie and Kristy Bamu. Full story from the BBC here.

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said:

“Child abuse is appalling and unacceptable wherever it occurs and whatever form it takes.

Abuse linked to faith or belief in spirits, witchcraft or possession is a horrific crime, condemned by people of all cultures, communities and faiths – but there has been a ‘wall of silence’ around its scale and extent.

There can never be a blind eye turned to violence or emotional abuse or even the smallest risk that religious beliefs will lead to young people being harmed.”

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We at Atheism UK agree but we go further. It is the beliefs themselves that are the direct cause of the abuse and so it is these beliefs that we also condemn and criticize!

However this action plan is a step in the right direction to protect those at risk from harm because of these beliefs.