Global society
all articles
When Justice was two years old, she witnessed her mother being brutally dragged out of the house by several men. The men tore their mother's clothes off, tortured her with a hot iron rod and poured petrol over her.
Little Justice escaped with her father from Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. However, her mother was thrown onto a mountain of rubbish at a crossroads and set on fire. The then 20-year-old burned alive.
Countless people are said to have watched the martyrdom of the young woman, including police officers and firefighters. Onlookers allegedly prevented a rescue.
Justice's mother was killed because she was believed to be a "Sanguma". In Papua New Guinea, "sanguma" means witchcraft or black magic. Because although more than 90 percent of the inhabitants of the island state are committed to Christianity, the belief in evil spirits and magical damage spells is widespread.
Papua New Guinea is one of the most inaccessible and least explored places in the world. A large part of the approximately eight million inhabitants live in the remote highlands and the rainforests in the east of the island. Where people still live in village and tribal communities, everything negative or inexplicable is quickly explained with witchcraft and black magic.
"I wanted to understand all of this"
People accused of being "Sanguma" are driven out of their homes, persecuted, tortured and killed. Women are often affected and the number of victims increases according to an Oxfam study. Especially in the inaccessible highlands and in the rainforest, witch hunts are almost everyday, the perpetrators are often family members or neighbors. The UN estimates that around 200 people are killed each year.
The photographer Kristina Steiner heard on the radio about a missionary in Papua New Guinea who reported witch persecution and killings. "I wanted to understand all of this and went there," says Steiner. At first she was very surprised "how shameful the subject is among the victims and how strongly the torture is sexualized among women".
Steiner was also surprised by the presence of the topic, she says: "In every village, in every hospital, in prison, in the police station - there were really acute or not too long-ago cases everywhere." With her pictures, the photographer wants to document not only the irrational belief in black magic, but also the brutal persecution and killings.
See how the victims of the witch hunt live with their fate in this photo gallery:
photo gallery
14 pictures
Witch persecution in Papua New Guinea: one of the most dangerous countries for womenThis contribution is part of the Global Society project, for which our reporters report from four continents. The project is long-term and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is the Global Society project?
Reporters from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will report under the title Global Society - about injustices in a globalized world, sociopolitical challenges and sustainable development. The reports, analyzes, photo series, videos and podcasts appear in the SPIEGEL policy department. The project is long-term and has been supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for over three years.
Is the journalistic content independent of the foundation?
Yes. The editorial content is created by the Gates Foundation without influence.
Do other media have similar projects?
Yes. Major European media such as "The Guardian" and "El País" have developed similar sections with "Global Development" and "Planeta Futuro" on their news pages with the support of the Gates Foundation.
Have there already been similar projects at SPIEGEL ONLINE?
In recent years, SPIEGEL ONLINE has already implemented two projects with the European Journalism Center (EJC) and the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The "Expedition Tomorrow" about global sustainability goals and the journalistic refugee project "The New Arrivals" several award-winning multimedia reports on migration and flight have emerged.
Where can I find all publications on global society?
The pieces can be found at SPIEGEL ONLINE on the topic page Global Society.