DOWNLOAD THE FREE LiSTNR APP
Ghana's "witch camps" are home to hundreds of women, all alleged witches. Photo: Louise Wateridge / Pacific Press ZUMA

The Top Countries Still Killing ‘Witches’ In 2024

Witch hunts are not just a product of colonial America, they are happening right now all around the world and violence against suspected witches is intensifying.

Witch hunts are a trend currently being driven by fundamental Christianity, poverty and civil conflict.

“It’s actually a phenomenon that is prevalent across many parts of the world … and it doesn’t seem to be one that is going away,” Professor Miranda Forsyth said on Tuesday morning’s episode of The Briefing.

Professor Miranda Forsyth tells The Briefing who is at risk, why they’re being targeted, and where in the world it’s happening most.

Forsyth is a Professor in the school of regulation and global governance at the Australian National University (ANU) and studied reports of violence against witchcraft across 60 countries.

RELATED:   Australia's gender gap ranks worst in the world for STEM students

In 2021, the UN published a resolution that specifically addressed harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks.

The report shows at least 20,000 ‘witches’ were killed across sixty countries between 2009 and 2019.

Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on LiSTNR today. The Briefing serves up the latest news and deep dives on topics affecting you, all in under 20 minutes.