WITCHCRAFT BRANDING: BRCI, PACT, and AFAW hold an interactive meeting between service providers and survivors of witchcraft branding in Calabar.

In the fight against Witchcraft Branding, Basic Rights Counsel Initiative in partnership with Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW) with support from Safe Child Africa, yesterday, organized an interactive meeting between Service providers and Survivors of Witchcraft Branding and some of their family members. 

The objective of the meeting was to create a forum for survivors and families to share experiences, to better understand their struggles and how it affects their every day life, to give survivors tips on how to handle stigmatization and also to recognize the contributions of some community anti witch-hunt campaigners in Cross River State

As part of the activities for the meeting, there was a focus group discussion for adult as well as children.

In recognition of their bravery and service to duty in protecting persons accused of Witchcraft, Awards were presented to the following Organizations, homes and individual:

📌 Infant Jesus Orphanage

📌 Lawrence Igbudu’s Rehabilitation/Orphange Home

📌 Child Protection Network,   Calabar, Cross River State.

📌 Coalition of Youth Serving Non Governmental Organization and Individuals

📌 Ege Ebe Ukara

📌 HIT 95.9FM, Calabar

📌 CrossRiverWatch.

Dr. Leo Igwe while commending the awardees,  encouraged them not to relent and pledged to continue to mobilise support for their rare but valuable services to humanity. Also speaking at the event was Prof. Eka Braide who was represented by Pamela Braide,  she encouraged State Actors to do more to protect survivors. 

Our Resource Mobilization  Advisor, Mrs. Aniekan Dan Ini- Edem; a CUSO Intern assigned to Basic Rights Counsel Initiative gave a brief introduction of our work at BRCI, PACT, Safe Child Africa and AFAW as well as fundraising activities of the organization.

Participants and survivors shared their stories and how they survived attempted murder. Mrs Elizabeth Abua of the Cross River State Ministry of Humanity and Social Welfare urged families to continue to support their vulnerable relatives.

James Ibor in his remark explained the services of BRCI and their referral to other service providers in Cross River State and called on the Government of Cross River State to build the capacities of personnel of the Ministry of Humanity and Social Welfare and the Police to respond more appropriately to complaints of witchcraft branding.

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