Videos, Podcasts and other Media

Videos, Podcasts, and other Media

Why witch hunts are still happening in 2024, with Professor Miranda Forsyth

Witch hunts aren't confined to colonial America's history books; they persist across the various corners of the globe to this very day.

Individuals continue to face persecution, and tragically, even murder, merely based on suspicion of practising witchcraft. This disturbing trend finds its roots in a complex interplay of factors including fundamentalist interpretations of Christianity, socioeconomic disparity, and civil unrest.

In Why Witch Hunts Are Still Happening in 2024, Professor Miranda Forsyth joins The Briefing podcast to explain what happens to these vulnerable people and what motivations lie behind today’s witch hunts. She then takes an incisive look at the dedicated, ongoing efforts to combat this pervasive issue.

Witchcraft Accusations and Gender Inequality with Dr. Samantha Spence

Witchcraft accusations and gender inequality with Dr. Samantha Spence

Dr. Samantha Spence returns to “Witch Hunt” to discuss witchcraft accusations and gender inequality. In what the podcast calls ‘a poignant episode’, Dr. Spence seamlessly blends the resonant themes of International Women's Day and Women’s History Month, to embark on a profound exploration of the intertwined narratives of witch-hunting and women's enduring battles across the globe. Through her insightful discourse, Dr. Spence illuminates the intricate web of adversities that entrap women, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges they face.

Josephine Durua fights for the rights of survivors of sorcery accusation

Josephine Durua fights for the rights of survivors of sorcery accusation

Each year, hundreds of people in Papua New Guinea are falsely accused of practicing sorcery. The consequences of an accusation can be devastating, with the accused often facing death, torture or ostracization from their communities.

Twenty years ago, Josephine Durua was falsely accused of sorcery in her community in Port Moresby. After defeating her accusers in courts, Josephine has dedicated her life to ending sorcery accusation related violence.

Today, she runs Port Moresby's only safe house dedicated to survivors of sorcery accusation and works as a village magistrate to deliver justice for fellow survivors.

With the support of UNDP's 'Strongpla Meri, Strongpla Nesen' project, which is generously funded by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Josephine is undergoing trainings to improve her safe house's counseling services.

Keynote for Expert Workshop TINA AWAHP (Nov 2023) theinternationalnetwork.org

Online Expert Workshop: Responses to UN Resolution A/HRC/RES/47/8 on the Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks

This workshop was made possible by an award to Professor Charlotte Baker from the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Acceleration Account.

AFRICAN WITCHFINDER - Full Film (2018)

A Namibian pastor faces a deadly mix of ancient culture, fear, and superstition as he embarks on a mission to prevent innocent people from being drugged, chained and murdered in a campaign for the freedom of the mentally ill.

Directed and Produced by Mally Graveson & Toby Trueman
Edited by Drew Gibson
Director of Photography Toby Trueman
Sound Design Jonathan Worman

cloudbreakpictures.com/african-witchfinder | alzheimersdementianamibia.wordpress.com

©Cloud Break Pictures 2018

Echoes of the Witch with Margaux Crump and Jake Eshelman

Whether in Macbeth, Harry Potter or Hansel and Gretel – witches have a long tradition in literature and film, often celebrated as strong, independent women, or portrayed as the incarnation of evil. But in a recent global study, over 40 percent of those surveyed said they believe in malevolent witchcraft. So witches are not just the stuff of fantasy nor a phenomenon of some distant medieval past. As the descendant of a family that lost several members to witch hunts, DW-reporter Karin Helmstaedt goes searching for clues, speaking to experts and digging through archives in southern Germany. From the beginning of the Great European Witch Hunts in the 15th century to witch hunts in present-day Africa and Asia, this episode of Arts Unveiled goes after the truth about why they really happened, and why being singled out as a witch can still be deadly today.

Echoes of the Witch with Margaux Crump and Jake Eshelman

Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast is the show about how and why we hunt witches. Our show covers witch trials from ancient times to the present, around the globe. We talk about history, current events, and all aspects of witch trials. 

We feature historical facts and interviews with leading witch trial researchers and activists. Each episode includes an update on witch-hunts happening in the world right now. Our aim is to learn how to stop witch-hunting behavior.

The discussion of SARV starts at about minute 46.

On 24 March 2023 the Papua New Guinea Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Gender Based Violence conducted an Enquiry into the way the state was responding to these issues, including Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV).

Short film - facebook.com/wildfireshortfilm

"A fire is burning in my country. The fire is in the minds of the people. Sorcery accusation violence runs wild. It's taking many innocent lives, it's like Wildfire."

This short film explores the rise of 'sanguma' - sorcery accusations, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The film exposes the beliefs that underlie the violence, the actions of the perpetrators and the work being done by indigenous human rights defender Evelyn Kunda to rescue those who manage to escape.

Support Evelyn Kunda's Safe House: pledgeme.co.nz/projects/7287-fundraising-for-evelyn-s-safehouse

Countering Sorcery Accusation Violence in Papua New Guinea (Stop Sorcery Violence)

A Closer Look: Enforcement Lacking In Cases of Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (EMTV)

Interview to Lilly Be'Soer - Voice for Change (Stop Sorcery Violence)

Everybody's Business - Full Version (Final) (Stop Sorcery Violence)

Why Witchcraft is Still Getting Women Killed (VICE)

Witchcraft: India's Deadly Superstition (The New York Times)

BBC Life Clinic on how misconceptions about dementia lead to accusations of witchcraft in Africa (2023)

WHRIN Expert Discussion Series: Khola Hassan

WHRIN Expert Discussion Series: Jean Lafontaine

Media