By Leo Igwe
Leo is a Nigerian human rights advocate and humanist
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) needs your support this year to fulfil its mission of realizing an Africa free of witch hunting by 2030. We are counting on our friends, sponsors, and supporters to help us deliver our vision. Thanks to support since 2020, we have been able to intervene in over twenty-five cases of witch persecution. We have been able to highlight and address abuses linked to imputations of harmful magic and ritual attacks in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, and Zambia.
In Nigeria, AfAW helped relocate a man who was accused of determining the destinies of people in his community in Imo state in 2020. We worked with his family members to relocate and support him, until he passed away last year. AfAW has been able to support child survivors of witchcraft accusation in Plateau and Ogun states (in Nigeria), including a schoolgirl from Liberia who was accused and subsequently expelled from the school. We have extended help to victims and their families in Cross River, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Adamawa, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa and other parts of Nigeria. AfAW has pressured the police, other state actors, human rights agencies and civil society groups to intervene and support alleged witches and ensure access to justice in Nigeria and beyond. We have provided legal, humanitarian and psychological support to sufferers and survivors of witch persecution. AfAW has organized public enlightenment programs and used mainstream and social media platforms to reach, educate and reorient the public.
Thanks to support, AfAW will do more to save lives and protect victims of witchcraft allegations in 2023. This is why I am asking you to consider making a donation to support our work this year. With your donation, we will be able to sustain our advocacy work and turn the tide against witch hunters and persecutors everywhere. You can donate as an individual or as a group. You can help us fund raise or explore other funding raising opportunities within your organisation, community or country. People notify us about witch persecution cases at anytime, in the early morning and late at night. Time is of essence because witchcraft accusation is a form of death sentence in many parts of Africa.
So I urge to help put AfAW in a position to be able to act promptly and take action against witch persecution 24/7! Please donate and support advocacy against witch persecution in Africa today.
Donations can be sent via Humanists International. In the preference section, please instruct that your donation is sent to Advocacy for Alleged Witches. Thank you!
Email nskepticleo@yahoo.com