African Superstitions: The Punch:: Women group pleads against child witch stigmatisation

Help Make Helen Ukpabio Face Justice

Target: President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Inspector-General of Police Sir Mike Mbama Okiro

Sponsored by:

As concerned members of the Nigerian and International community, we have been watching in great horror the activities of Evangelist Helen Ukpabio for some time now.

After having noted the recent great damage done to Nigeria's reputation by this false prophet's un-Christian teachings, we now feel that we have no option but to call upon the Nigerian Federal Government, Inspector General of Police, Akwa Ibom State Government and Cross River State to act to prevent any further embarrassment being caused. We believe that the recent attacks of innocent NGO staff and children at the CRARN children's centre were orchastrated by Mrs Ukpabio in an attempt by her to deflect criticism of her and her church's role in the labeling of children as witches, an act which has led to the widepread abuse of child rights taking place in the South-South region. Such violent abuse and labelling of innocent children is clearly an abuse of the Child Rights Act (2004) and, as such, we therefore call for the following:

1/ Urgent in-depth investigations into the recent attack on the CRARN centre and the activities of Evangelist Mrs Helen Ukpabio and Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries to take place for breaches of the recently enacted Child Rights Act, which makes it illegal for children to be labeled as witches.

2/ Closure of all churches found to be labeling children as witches through deliverance or other methods. 3/ Seizure of all assets and illegal wealth of all false prophets such as Helen Ukpabio and redistribution of such funds to rehabilitate the victims of child witch stigmatisation.

4/ Successful prosecution of all pastors and parents found to be labeling children as witches.

We do not wish for the world to continue to focus on Nigeria with negative press and we do appreciate that you continue to monitor the response to the child witch crisis in Nigeria. We wish to encourage you to do everything in your power to fight such perpetrators of evil and uphold the rights of Nigeria's children.

As concerned members of the Nigerian and International community, we have been watching in great horror the activities of Evangelist Helen Ukpabio for some time now. After having noted the recent great damage done to Nigeria's reputation by this false prophet's un-Christian teachings, we now feel that we have no option but to call upon the Nigerian Federal Government, Inspector General of Police, Akwa Ibom State Government and Cross River State to act to prevent any further embarrassment being caused. We believe that the recent attacks of innocent NGO staff and children at the CRARN children's centre were orchastrated by Mrs Ukpabio in an attempt by her to deflect criticism of her and her church's role in the labeling of children as witches, an act which has led to the widepread abuse of child rights taking place in the South-South region. Such violent abuse and labelling of innocent children is clearly an abuse of the Child Rights Act (2004) and, as such, we therefore call for the following:

4/ Successful prosecution of all pastors and parents found to be labeling children as witches.

signature goal: 10,000

77 signatures! Sign petition ->Help Make Helen Ukpabio Face Justice

Please take time to sign Help Make Helen Ukpabio Face Justice. This is in response to the recent campaign of terror that was inflicted upon the staff and children at the CRARN center in Eket, Nigeria and the legal cases that have been sponsored by Helen Ukpabio to make Stepping Stones Nigeria and CRARN face false charges of fraud and "threat to life".

Please do show your support and sign this petition. If you could also forward to any other contacts around the world that would be wonderful. Previous petitions have significantly helped us with our campaign to protect and promote the rights of so-called child witches in Nigeria.

Please do not be cynical about such petitions. We really can use them to affect positive change! More information about the recent campaign of terror at the CRARN center can be found at: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=20503 Akwa Ibom State Government Response can be found at: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/metro/article03//indexn3_html?pdate=130709&ptitle=Akpabio%20donates%20N10%20million%20to%20centre%20for%20stigmatized%20kids&cpdate=130709 Helen Ukpabio response can be found at: http://thenationonlineng.net/web/articles/11667/1/Assassins-are-after-me-Helen-Ukpabio-cries-out/Page1.html

With sincere thanks for all your ongoing support,

Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Punch:: Women group pleads against child witch stigmatisation

The women wing of Oron Union, a socio-cultural organisation in Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday pledged its support for the fight against child witch syndrome, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The group said it planned to sponsor a bill in the state House of Assembly to check the proliferation of unconventional churches which branded innocent children as witches and extorted money for their “deliverance.”

Leader of the group, Mrs. Alice Esin, made the pledge when the group visited the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network centre for abandoned children in Eket.

She promised to collaborate with the non-governmental organisation, noting that there was increase in the rate of child stigmatisation and abandonment based on the superstitious belief in child witchcraft.

The Punch:: Women group pleads against child witch stigmatisation