Malleus Maleficarum: Witchcraft Persecution in the 21st Century

A presentation of the International Criminal Law Committee

29 October 2025

The "witch trials" in Early European history and during the US colonial period have left an indelible mark on the way society understands how and why "witch hunts" took place. Since the witch trials which were held in Europe and in Salem, many of the women who were found to be alleged witches have been exonerated. Unfortunately, this has not necessarily translated into the end of witch hunts or the persecution of innocent people in the name of sorcery or other forms of "magic."

This session examined witchcraft persecution occurring in the 21st century across the world, with impunity. The panel also discusses how communities respond to these acts and what lessons can be gleaned from history to prevent persecution of innocent people.

Participants: Erasmus Ablernarh (moderator), International Law Student Association, University of Massachusetts School of Law; ABA International Criminal Law Committee. Govind Kelkar, Feminist scholar; Executive Director, GenDev Centre for Research and Innovation, Gurgaon, India; Co-author of both the Witch Hunts: Culture, Patriarchy and Structural Transformation and the compendium, Gender, Culture, and Capital: Witch Hunts and Ritual Attacks Across Northeast India. Jan Machielsen, Historian, Cardiff University (UK); expert in Early Modern Witchcraft and Demonology; Monograph author, The Basque Witch-Hunt: A Secret History. Jacqueline Mbogo, O.G.W, International Development Specialist working at the intersection of leadership, strategy and action; Member, G7 Advisory Council to Kenya’s women governors; Board member, Global Justice Centre, NGO working to combat human rights violations, gender-based violence and human trafficking. Dev Nathan, Professor, Institute for Human Development, India; Co-author of Witch Hunts: Culture, Patriarchy and Structural Transformation. Grace Nguyen (moderator), President, International Law Student Association, University of Massachusetts School of Law; ABA International Criminal Law Committee.

Please click here to view the video on YouTube or here to view it on the International Criminal Law Committee’s webpage .