Faith and belief-based child abuse, including practices around ‘spirit possession’ and ‘witchcraft’, is a hidden crime, which makes it difficult to quantify in terms of magnitude. Abuse can be separated into five different areas:

– Abuse as a result of a child being accused of being a ‘witch’
– Abuse as a result of a child being accused of being possessed by ‘evil spirits’
– Ritualistic abuse which is prolonged sexual, physical and psychological abuse
– Satanic abuse which is carried out in the name of ‘Satan’ and may have links to cults
– Any other harmful practice linked to a belief or faith