“Slaughters of witches” 

refer to the historical periods of witch hunts in Europe and colonial America, as well as contemporary witch hunts in various parts of the world. Historically, tens of thousands were executed in Europe between 1450 and 1750, with executions varying by region and method, such as burning in mainland Europe and hanging in England and its colonies. Today, witch hunts persist, with thousands of people, particularly vulnerable individuals, harmed, murdered, or ostracized in countries across Africa, Asia, and other regions due to accusations of witchcraft. 

Historical witch hunts

• Timeline: A period of intense witch hunts occurred from approximately 1450 to 1750 in Europe and colonial America.
• Estimated toll: Modern research suggests around 40,000 to 50,000 executions occurred in Europe during this time, with women making up 75-80% of the victims.
• Execution methods:
  • Mainland Europe: Often involved burning at the stake.
  • England and American colonies: Primarily resulted in hanging.
  • Scotland: Involved strangling the accused before burning their body.
• Example: The Salem Witch Trials in colonial America (1692-1693) resulted in 19 executions by hanging and one by pressing. 

Contemporary witch hunts

• Prevalence: Modern witch hunts, or witchcraft-related violence, continue in many parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia like India.
• Motivations: Reasons for accusations include settling scores, land disputes, or as a way to punish women for rejecting sexual advances.
• Impact: Accusations can lead to severe violence, such as beatings, torture, banishment, limb amputation, or murder.
• “Witch camps”: In places like northern Ghana, some women accused of witchcraft are forced to flee their homes and live in designated “witch camps”.
• Official response: The UN Human Rights Council has passed resolutions calling for the elimination of harmful practices related to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks.