Learn about our mission, vision and purpose as we seek to put an end to the barbaric practice of ritual killings in Gabon.

VISION AND PURPOSE

The Foundation Against Ritual Killings and Child Trafficking is organized and established exclusively for charitable, scientific, and education purposes. The Foundation Against Ritual Killings and Child Trafficking is primarily concerned with two areas of human rights violations in the Republic of Gabon, and by extension, in Africa: Ritual killings and child trafficking.

According to the U.S. Department of State 2013 Report on Human Right Practices in Gabon, “the most important human rights problems in the country were harsh prison conditions, lengthy pretrial detention, and ritual killings.” The report further states: “Other major human rights problems included: use of excessive force by police; an inefficient judiciary subject to government influence; restrictions on privacy and the press; harassment and extortion of African immigrants and refugees; widespread government corruption; violence against women; societal discrimination against women, noncitizen Africans, Pygmies, and persons with HIV/AIDS; trafficking in persons, particularly children; and forced child labor.”

The notion of « Ritual Killings » refers to the shocking and gruesome practice known in Gabon as “ritual killings” or “sacrificial murders” whereby not only political figures, but also regular citizens, get innocent people killed and cut into pieces for the purposes of recovering “body parts” that are deemed mystically “potent” enough to ensure their survival in power and/or bring them wealth, health, success, and youth. Women and children have been the main targets of these crimes, and have literally been tortured and assassinated in horrible fashions, especially on the eve of elections and government reshufflings. Many of the victims have seen their sexual organs, ears, tongue, eyes, heart, kidneys, lips, and other body parts removed while they were still alive. Penises, vaginas, clitorises, and breasts are among the most prized body parts but children are bearing the brunt of the cruel and inhumane practice.

Child Trafficking—and subsequent forced child labor practices—has also been a problem in Gabon. The country’s relative wealth has tended to attract immigrants from poorer West African nations, and with this immigration has developed an illegal importation of children from West Africa who have been used in Gabon either by these West Africans themselves in such areas as street vending or domestic servitude, or by affluent Gabonese civil servants in domestic functions.

With the growing “body part” market and demand stemming from the practice of ritual killings in Gabon, child trafficking for the purpose of ritualistically collecting “body parts” is expected to become a problem as children may increasingly be forcefully imported into Gabon from West Africa for the specific purpose of being killed to satisfy the national demand for “body parts.”

MISSION

The following are the missions for which this organization has been constituted:

1. To promote awareness both in the United States and worldwide of the inhumane and cruel nature of the practices of ritual killings and child trafficking in the Republic of Gabon in particular, and in Africa in general;
2. To support and conduct non-partisan research, education, and informational activities to increase public awareness about the practices of ritual killings and child trafficking in the Republic of Gabon in particular, and in Africa in general;
3. To combat and help to combat the practices of ritual killings, child trafficking, and forced child labor and servitude in the Republic of Gabon in particular, and in Africa in general;
4. To promote the adoption of punitive measures and legislation aimed at combatting these barbaric practices, including advising governments and non-governmental organizations on how to help combat these practices;
5. To educate the public as to how to secure families and prevent family members from becoming victims of ritual killings, child trafficking and forced child labor;
6. To educate the public both in the cities and villages as to the irrationality of ritual killings as a way of advancing one’s social condition, and promote alternative ways of thinking about social, economic and political promotion.
7. To provide legal, psychological and financial assistance to the families of the victims of ritual killings and child trafficking, including the maintenance of a clinic to serve as a safe house for escapees of ritual killings, child trafficking, and child labor;
8. To track down the families of the victims of child trafficking across Africa and reunite such families;
9. To build viable statistical and informational databases aimed at establishing the scope of these practices in the Republic of Gabon in particular, and in Africa in general;
10. To offer financial grants and assistance to existing charitable organizations that share and collaborate in our vision and mission.