spot_imgspot_img
Thursday, October 10, 2024

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE APPRECIATES CHRIS SMITH’S “EFFORTS TO ADDRESS RITUAL ABUSE AND SACRIFICE IN AFRICA” 

Date:

November 22, 2023

The Honorable

Chris H. Smith, Chairman

House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee

on Global Health, Global Human Rights,

and International Organizations

House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Thank you for your letter of September 23 and for sharing your concerns regarding reports of politically motivated ritual abuse and sacrifice in Africa. The Department appreciates your engagement on this topic, including your September 19 hearing titled, “Efforts to Address Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice in Africa.”

The Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2021 and 2022 include information on discrimination and societal abuses such as ritual killings and related instances of organ harvesting for countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.  The 2021 and 2022 Country Reports for nearly half the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa incorporated details about ritual abuses, including ritual killings.

With respect to the countries of concern mentioned in your letter and the September hearing, the recent Human Rights Reports covering Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda all note instances of ritual abuse, including attacks and ritualistic killings of children and persons with disabilities and witchcraft accusation related to violence against women.

Department officials will continue monitoring, reporting on, and raising this important issue in bilateral engagements. The Department regularly engages through both our diplomacy and foreign assistance programming on issues of human rights and harmful traditional practices, including in West Africa where the Department continues to support countries’ efforts to ensure communities are aware of modern constitutional rights which supersede the legal frameworks that governed traditional communities for decades.  Through assistance, the Department also aims to raise awareness of the consequences of these practices, empowering members of the community to be agents of change and strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations to advocate for reform.

The Department also vigilantly tracks and documents electoral violence that can manifest in a broad range of actions, including ritual abuse.  As you know, Liberia held general elections on October 10.  Thus far, there have been no reports of politically motivated ritual abuse from Embassy Monrovia, civil society organizations, or trusted investigative reporters based in Liberia surrounding this recent election.  The Department will continue to monitor the situation.

The Department remains committed to promoting respect for human rights and advancing a free, peaceful, and prosperous world on behalf of the American people.

We hope this information is helpful.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Naz Durakoğlu

Assistant Secretary

Bureau of Legislative Affairs

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

BOAKAI’S MISPLACED AMBITIONS AS LIBERIA BLEEDS AND THE PRESIDENT COURTS GLOBAL VANITY

Eight months into his presidency, Joseph Boakai’s administration is...

TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MPOX – STAY ALERT, STAY PROTECTED

As Liberia confronts the resurgence of Mpox, the confirmation...

NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HIGH SALARIES OF BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AMID ECONOMIC STRUGGLES

In the midst of Liberia's current economic struggles, revelations...

LIBERIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS: A CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AMID ESCALATING TENSIONS

The recent clash between the Coalition for Democratic Change...

COMMENTARY

THE MASS DISMISSAL OF LIBERIAN PUBLIC SERVANTS: A TROUBLING TREND UNDER THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION

A Commentary by Wondah L. Jah Since assuming the presidency,...

SECURITY RISKS: IS PRESIDENT BOAKAI UNKNOWINGLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR EARLY COUP D’ÉTAT?

In his commentary, Liberian political analyst Vandalerk R. Patricks...

IS JOSEPH BOAKAI LISTENING TO PROTESTS AROUND AFRICA?

A Commentary By Wondah L. Jah In January, Joseph Boakai,...

LATEST NEWS

AMERICAN MISSIONARY LUCAS RICHARDS ACQUITTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – American missionary Lucas Richards has been...

JEWEL HOWARD TAYLOR’S TENURE AS STANDARD BEARER OF NPP HAS ENDED – CHAIRMAN DECLARES POSITION VACANT 

Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and standard bearer...

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER CALLS FOR DEFENSE MINISTER ZIANKAHN’S RESIGNATION OVER “RED-LINE” WARNING

By Olando Testimony Zeongar WASHINGTON, D.C. - Human rights activist...

LIBERIA: IN CHARLOE’S MURDER CASE; FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE SCOTT, OTHERS PLEA “NOT GUILTY”

MONROVIA – Former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott and...

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

AMID AN UNENDING WAR AGAINST POVERTY, INJUSTICES – HAS THE PROGRESSIVE STRUGGLE BECOME LOST IN TRANSLATION?

A Patriot's Diary With Ekena Wesley What manner of Liberian progressives...

HAS PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S GOVERNMENT BEGUN BEARING GOOD FRUITS? (PART1)

By Jacob N.B. Parley Following a careful reflection, I have...

ELEVATING THE AG BIBLE COLLEGE TO A UNIVERSITY: A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

By Jacob N.B. Parley After many years of successful preaching...

THE DILEMMA OF PRESIDENTIAL SUPREMACY IN LIBERIA: EXAMINING THE BALANCE OF POWER

By Dr. Clarence R. Pearson, Sr. Superior presidency is the...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link