The Independent newspaper visited Sukumaland in Tanzania earlier this month to see the impact of our projects promoting older women’s rights.

The projects are supported by funds from Comic Relief, a UK fundraising event held every two years.

In an article published in The Independent today, journalist Johann Hari explores how accusations of witchcraft against older women in rural Tanzania are leading to violence and even murder.

Belief in witchcraft is widespread across Africa but in northern Tanzania is particularly strong. Many attacks go unreported, but it is estimated that some 1,000 people in Tanzania lose their lives annually to witchcraft-related violence, the majority women over the age of 50.

Witchcraft accusations are used to provide scapegoats for phenomenon such as illness, death, drought, hunger, crop failure and HIV and AIDS. Older women, especially widows, are often targeted due to their low status, low levels of literacy, and inability to defend themselves.

HelpAge works with local communities to promote awareness of women’s rights by training paralegals, providing practical support and working with communities and the perpetrators of violence themselves to change attitudes and behaviors.

In some project areas we have seen a 90% reduction in the number of witchcraft accusations.

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