The final report from the seven-year independent inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) says that urgent action is required to ensure children are better protected from sexual abuse.
Based upon the findings of 15 separate investigations and over 6,200 accounts of child sexual abuse, it sets out the ‘devastating scale of child sexual abuse, describing the extent of potential crimes facing babies, toddlers, children and young people.'
The inquiry states that ‘child sexual abuse has been hidden from public view for decades and it remains under-reported and under-identified to this day.’
It goes on to say, ‘Blame was frequently assigned to the victims who were treated as if they were unworthy of protection.’
The report makes clear that child protection must be given much greater priority in public life and more must be done within the criminal justice system to reduce ‘inordinate’ delays faced by those involved in child sex abuse cases. To achieve this, it makes 20 recommendations, they include:
- A new law of mandatory reporting making it a legal requirement for those who work in regulated activity or work in a position of trust to report child sexual abuse.
- The creation of a Child Protection Authority (CPA) in England and Wales to secure a much stronger focus on the complex work of child protection in the relevant institutions and statutory agencies.
- A national redress scheme for England and for Wales, to provide monetary redress for child sexual abuse for those who have been let down by state and non-state institutions in the past.
Professor Alexis Jay, chair of the Inquiry said, ‘For too long, child sexual abuse has been considered a problem of the past, despite lifelong impacts on its young victims.
‘Its extent cannot be underestimated; the sexual abuse of children is an epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake and some will never recover.
‘Across our investigations, research programme and Truth Project, we heard time and time again how allegations of abuse were ignored, victims were blamed and institutions prioritised their reputations over the protection of children. The nature and scale of the abuse we encountered were horrifying and deeply disturbing. As a society, we simply cannot file it away and consider it a historical aberration when so much of what we learned suggests it is an ever-growing problem, exacerbated by the current and future threat of the internet.
‘I urge the UK government, the Welsh Government and all other relevant institutions to implement the Inquiry’s recommendations as a matter of urgency. Unless we are prepared to accept a world where our children, and their children, are always in danger of becoming victims of this terrible crime, action must be taken immediately.’
Richard Scorer, head of abuse law at Slater & Gordon, who represented the single largest group of victims at the inquiry, said, ‘Today is a huge day for survivors. This report makes a start on much needed reform. But it doesn’t go far enough.
‘We strongly welcome mandatory reporting. However, the Inquiry’s recommendation falls short of what we need. The lack of any criminal penalty for failure to report abuse which is reasonably suspected creates a real risk that institutions can still turn a blind eye.
‘Children rarely disclose abuse, perpetrators almost never do. Mandatory reporting can only work if the requirement to report reasonable suspicion of abuse has teeth in the form of criminal sanctions. As currently worded the inquiry’s proposal could end up being mandatory reporting in name only.
‘We will fight to strengthen this proposal as it goes through Parliament.’
Commenting, the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) said the ‘Government’s first priority must be to assure the many victims that they have been heard, and that despite the current political instability this inquiry will lead to real change.’
- The inquiry's report is available here
