Woman killed for sorcery in Papua New Guinea

A 20-year-old woman accused of sorcery in Papua New Guinea was reportedly tortured and killed last week, the latest in a series of killings over accusations of sorcery in the country.

According to reports, Kepari Leniata was burnt alive in front of a crowd by relatives of a six-year-old boy whom she was accused of using sorcery to kill, while attempts by law enforcement officials to intervene failed.

In rural Papua New Guinea, witchcraft is often blamed for unexplained misfortunes.

''This case adds to the growing pattern of vigilante attacks and killings of persons accused of sorcery in Papua New Guinea,'' Cecile Pouilly, a spokeswoman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva.

“We urge the Government to put an end to these crimes and to bring perpetrators of attacks and killings to justice through thorough, prompt and impartial investigations in accordance with international law,” she said.

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