Guidance
Child abuse linked to faith or belief: national action plan
Information for those who work with children on a plan to help prevent child abuse arising from religion or superstition.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This action plan was created for anyone who works with children, to raise awareness of child abuse linked to faith or belief. It will also be of interest to religious groups and communities in general.
Belief in witchcraft, spirit possession and other forms of the supernatural can lead to children being blamed for bad luck, and subsequently abused. Fear of the supernatural is also known to be used to make children comply with being trafficked for domestic slavery or sexual exploitation.
The plan identifies problems and solutions, and includes case studies of work already being done to stop or prevent this type of abuse.
Updates to this page
Published 14 August 2012