Congo children branded as witches, abducted: U.N.

Alright , This goes directly into the files of WTF ! A bunch of whacked Africans seeing a Man turn into A goat is one thing ! But A bunch of Congolese Numbnuts Saying that their kids are all into Witchcraft is another , This would be the Third article I have seen out of Africa that has to do with Witchcraft , And by far the most messed up ! What the hell is Wrong with you people ?????

GENEVA (Reuters) - Growing numbers of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being labeled as witches, and others face abduction by armed groups for use as soldiers, a United Nations watchdog said Friday.

The U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child called on Congolese authorities to better protect young people in their country, including those left orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

"Children, contrary to being treated primarily as victims, have been arrested, detained and tried in military courts for military offences and other crimes allegedly committed while they were in armed forces or groups," it said.

Street children in the former Zaire are regularly harassed, threatened, beaten or arrested by the military and police, the U.N. committee said.

"A large number of children are labeled as witches and consequently suffer serious stigmatization," it said.

It expressed concern that "violence against children accused of witchcraft is increasing, and that children are being kept as prisoners in religious buildings where they are exposed to torture and ill-treatment or even killed under the pretext of exorcism."

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