VII.
Decision of the Committee
87. In light of the foregoing analysis, the Committee finds the Respondent State in
violation of its obligations under Article 5(1) and (2) on the right to life survival and
development of the child; Article 3 and 13 of the Charter on the right to nondiscrimination including non-discrimination on the basis of disability, Article 11 on
the right to education; and Article 16 on freedom from torture and abuse. The
Committee, therefore, recommends for the Respondent State to:
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Undertake a comprehensive mapping of the status of witchcraft
accusation to identify the areas it is prevalent and assess the
vulnerabilities of children focusing on the in the States identified in this
Communication;
Ensure the explicit prohibition of the practice of accusation of witchcraft
against children by law across all States of the Federation, and
harmonize existing legal frameworks accordingly;
Strengthen the capacity of law enforcement and members of the
judiciary through targeted training on the impact of witchcraft accusation
on children and the gravity of the violence caused on children’s rights;
Establish specialized monitoring and response units mandated to
receive complaints, investigate cases, and support the prosecution of
offences related to witchcraft accusations, and ensure that such units
are adequately resourced;
Undertake thorough investigation and prosecution of cases of abuse in
relation to witchcraft accusation with sanctions appropriate to deter the
practice and address impunity;
Conduct extensive and continuous awareness raising efforts to address
practice of witchcraft accusation and engage community, traditional and
religious leaders in eliminating violence against children accused
witchcraft;
Provide comprehensive support services to affected children, including
physical protection, medical care, and psychosocial support, and
establish effective referral and reporting mechanisms to ensure access
to such services, including access to education.
88. With a view to ensure implementation of these decisions, the Committee
recommends that the Respondent State:
- Develops a time-bound national action plan to implement these
recommendations;
- Disseminates this decision and the corresponding action plan to all
concerned ministers, offices, and State authorities within the
Federation;
- Designates a national coordination mechanism, including focal points or
task force, to monitor implementation and report on progress to the
Committee;
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