Spirit possession and witchcraft
Belief in spirits and possession are widespread. The key feature in cases of abuse is not the beliefs of a family, but that the perpetrator of the abuse uses these beliefs as a justification for the abuse of the child. Practitioners need to have an understanding of religious beliefs and cultural practices in order to help gain the trust of the child, the family and the community.
The Welsh Government Guide for Professionals: on Safeguarding Children from Abuse Linked to a Belief in Spirit Possession (May 2008) provides definitions, incidence, information on identifying this form of child abuse.
Definition
The term ‘belief in spirit possession’ is defined as the belief that an evil force has entered a child and is taking control. Sometimes the term ‘witch’ is used in the belief that a child is able to use an evil force to harm others.
Families and children can be deeply worried by the evil that they believe is threatening them, and abuse often occurs when an attempt is made to ‘exorcise’, or ‘deliver’ the child. Exorcism is defined here as attempting to expel evil spirits from a child.
The abuse can occur in the household where the child lives or in a place of worship where alleged ‘diagnosis’ and ‘exorcism’ or ‘deliverance’ may take place.
This kind of abuse is not confined to particular countries, cultures, religions or communities. Abusers may appear to be quite ordinary and may be family members, family friends, carers, faith leaders or other figures in the community. There are, however, a number of common factors that put a child at risk of harm:
- Rationalising misfortune by attributing it to spiritual forces
- A child is scapegoated because of an obvious or perceived difference
- A belief in ‘evil spirits’ commonly accompanied by a belief that the child could ‘infect’ others with such ‘evil’
- Social Factors such as changes in family structure or dynamics
- A family’s disillusionment with life or negative experience of migration
- A parent’s or carer’s mental ill health including post traumatic stress disorder or depression.
Impact on the child
The impact on the child may take many forms, which come under the general categories of child abuse and maltreatment such as starvation, isolation, beatings, administering substances and many others. Practitioners need to be alert, observe patterns and hear what the child may report.
The child might come to believe that they are possessed and this might be harmful in itself and complicate working with them.
Some carers and parents believe that a child can pass evil spirits to an unborn child, and practitioners will need to be mindful that a pre-birth assessment may be required, and that children subsequently born into the household may be vulnerable to harm.
Referral and Assessment
Practitioners should make a referral to Children’s Social Care, if there are concerns of risks to a child, and whilst being sensitive to cultural or religious beliefs, the focus on the child should never be forgotten.
Research commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills (2006) on Child Abuse linked to Accusations “spirit possession” and “witchcraft” - This report looks into the frequency and severity of child abuse linked to accusations of “possession” and “witchcraft”. It identifies key features common to these cases, draws conclusions and makes recommendations.