Programme for Online Conference, Lancaster University:
Public Health and ‘Witchcraft’ Beliefs
10am-2pm GMT, 17 June 2020
Misconceptions behind the causes of public health conditions such as dementia, mental health and autism, as well as disabilities including albinism, are often fuelled by beliefs in ‘witchcraft’.
Such misconceptions are a key factor leading women, children, older persons and those with non-normative bodies to suffer wide-ranging human rights violations.
However, to date, there has been no coordinated response to support front-line practitioners, organizations and policy makers working in this field.
This online conference will bring together key stakeholders to learn about the issues and explore initiatives to demystify public health conditions believed to be caused by ‘witchcraft’.
Presenters include:
Ikponwosa Ero, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by person with albinism
Berrie Holtzhausen, Alzheimers Dementia Namibia
Dr Olatunde Ayinde, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Sarah Snow, Medical Assistance Sierra Leone
Mary Penn-Timity, Sierra Leone Autistic Society
Gary Foxcroft, Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN)
To register, please email event@whrin.org
The conference is co-organized by the Disability and Inclusion Africa Network, the Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN) and the UN Independent Expert on Albinism.
It is funded by a grant from the UK Research and Innovation Strategic Priorities Fund.
