A broader issue
Accusations of witchcraft disproportionately affect older women and men, who are often scapegoated during times of hardship and crisis as different parties seek to gain social, economic, and territorial control within the context of violence and organized crime.
Such accusations not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also lead to violence and abuse, displacement, and exclusion from communities. Widespread poverty and limited social safety nets often lead to older people being seen as a burden, especially by younger generations struggling to survive.
Crimes against older people accused of witchcraft must be prosecuted under existing criminal laws to ensure justice is upheld. Legislation that criminalises witchcraft should be cancelled, as it legitimises persecution and violence. Community-based approaches are essential for preventing witchcraft accusations, raising awareness of the issue, ensuring rights are upheld and safeguarding those who are targeted.
The tragic events in Haiti highlight the urgent need for international action to protect older people from violence, particularly during times of crisis. Governments and organisations must work together to ensure that crimes motivated by witchcraft accusations are treated as serious offences and that older people’s rights are safeguarded at all levels.
A call for global action
This massacre is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of violence in Haiti that has resulted in the death of thousands of people this year, with hundreds of thousand displaced. We call on governments, law enforcement, and civil society to:
- Implement community-led strategies to challenge and prevent witchcraft accusations.
- Commit to humanitarian programmes and sustainable development projects that focus on combating poverty.
- Prioritise the care and protection of the most vulnerable populations, especially older people, who are among the groups most exposed and affected by violence and the humanitarian crisis.
- Train law enforcement and judicial officials to use existing criminal codes to address these crimes effectively.
- Ensure that all forms of violence against older people are treated with the seriousness they deserve.
- Introduce and enforce legislative and policy reforms that protect older people from accusations of witchcraft and related violence while ensuring effective accountability for perpetrators.
HelpAge International stands in solidarity with older people in Haiti and beyond, advocating for their safety, dignity, and human rights. The world must come together to ensure these atrocities are not repeated.
