Rise in African kids accused of witchcraft

Rise in African kids accused of witchcraft

The number of children accused of witchcraft in parts of Africa is increasing significantly, with orphans, street children and disabled mostly at risk, Unicef has said.

A new Unicef report has warned that children accused of being witches - some as young as eight - have been been burned, beaten and even killed as punishment. Also, children have had petrol poured into their eyes or ears as a way of trying to exorcise “evil spirits” that healers believe have possessed them.