Killing of Women and Child "Witches" on rise, UN told

The United Nation officials were informed of the growing persecution of women and children accused of being witches around the world. "This is becoming an international problem" Jeff Crisp says. Violence against women who are often elderly, were becoming more common in countries ranging from South Africa to India. Children were also being sought out for being witches often made from vague accusations. The children are often being killed by their parents, fearing that the authorities would bring them back if they discovered their name. The Human Rights Council of the UN says that witch hunting is now common in rural communities and larger population centres. The UN officials say that deaths could run from at least ten thousands, which often included beatings, deprivation of property, banishment, and isolation from community life.

Seeing this happen, even now and in today's society, is kind of puzzling. I could understand it happening in more, underdeveloped places, but in places like Nigeria and India is kind of shocking. I figured witch hunting was over with. Knowing that the parents are killing their children because they think they are possible witches is disturbing too, thinking an innocent child could posses any kind of magical powers to put hexes or anything on another person is absolutely beyond belief. This shows that maybe there is an underlying problem, where people are finding someone else to blame for their problems and taking it out on the elderly women and children.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090923/tsc-uk-religion-witchcraft-011ccfa.html