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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 1:16 am
Time: 1:16 am
Results for minority communities, african
1 results foundAuthor: Briggs, Stephen Title: Safeguarding Children's Rights: exploring issues of witchcraft and spirit possession in London's African communities Summary: Trust for London created the Safeguarding Children’s Rights initiative to invest in community-based work tackling child abuse linked to beliefs in witchcraft and spirit possession. This is the summary of an independent evaluation, undertaken by the Centre for Social Work Research. Key findings include: 1. Belief in spirit possession and witchcraft is widespread amongst many African communities but current knowledge indicates that the incidence of abuse linked to such beliefs appears to be low; 2. These beliefs occupy a broad spectrum, and the effects range from harmless to harmful. Belief in spirit possession and witchcraft is not of itself evidence of maltreatment; 3. Where there is abuse of children accused of possession or witchcraft, this abuse can be understood using one or more of the four identified forms of child abuse: physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Assessing for physical and emotional abuse is particularly important; 4. Using the existing child protection framework is effective when assessing cases where children have been accused of witchcraft and spirit possession; 5. Knowledge and understanding of culture and faith is critical to effective assessments of harm undertaken by professionals in this field. However, culture and faith should not be used as an excuse to abuse and must never take precedence over children’s rights; 6. Faith organisations have a critical role in many African communities, where poverty, inequality and lack of access to key resources can impact negatively on children. While many offer help and support, some unscrupulous faith leaders are in a position to exploit vulnerable individuals; 7. Community organisations can be an important source of advice and support to London’s African communities, and may counterbalance the power of some faith organisations; 8. Engaging communities in discussion and debate about human rights can be used as a touchstone for change. The promotion of young people as agents of change is particularly powerful; 9. Community-led approaches to promoting child safeguarding are scarce and have been shown to be critical in engaging socially excluded communities; and in changing attitudes and behaviour; 10. Faith leaders have a pivotal role to play in developing children’s rights within African communities. A shared faith has been very valuable in engaging these leaders – cutting across ethnic and national boundaries; 11. Training has been effective in beginning to address a lack of knowledge of child protection principles and practice among many African faith leaders in London; 12. A broader approach – promoting child safeguarding and well-being – is more effective for engaging communities and churches than a narrow focus on witchcraft and spirit possession. This also led to improvements in wider child protection including through changed practice and disclosures. Details: London: Trust for London, 2011. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2012 at http://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/Safeguarding%20final%20report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/Safeguarding%20final%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 124234 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect (U.K.)Child ProtectionFaith-Based OrganizationsJuvenile VictimsMinority Communities, AfricanWitchcraft |