And ‘plans’ they are…Where is the timeline? The proposed structure? The initial draft? IICA spent 7 years and spoke to over 7000 survivors of abuse in order to enable the Government to put in place a clear and concise approach affording survivors justice and closure. Survivors need a commitment from the Government not further consultation and potential disappointment.
In her Statement Suella Braverman, Home Secretary said as follows:
‘Meeting victims and survivors of child sexual abuse is one of the toughest things I’ve done as Home Secretary. Listening to how lives have been wrecked, trust broken and how so much pain has been inflicted is something I’ll never forget.
Whenever a child is suffering or at risk of harm, every one of us has a moral duty not to turn a blind eye.
The Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales has spent seven years examining the evidence in institutions across public life.
What it found paints a horrifying picture of repeated and widespread institutional failure to protect children.
The exposure of those failings would not have been possible without the testimony of the more than 6,000 victims and survivors of child sexual abuse who came forward. I cannot adequately articulate how much I admire them for doing so nor how grateful I am.
I want to put on record my thanks to the chairwoman of the inquiry, Professor Alexis Jay, the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel, and everyone who has played a part in this vital work.
Since the publication of our Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy in 2021, we have seen ground-breaking legislative progress, such as the introduction of the Online Safety Bill, which will hold technology companies to account for protecting children on their platforms.
And, through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, we are driving stronger sentencing so that serious offenders remain in prison longer. Our Child Abuse Image Database is helping to identify victims and offenders.
The Government made three pivotal commitments. The inquiry recommended we set up a redress scheme for victims of historic child sexual abuse and we have promised to do so.
We also confirmed our commitment to introduce a legal duty for those working with children to report child sexual abuse in England. Yesterday I launched a 12-week Call For Evidence, the results of which we will use to help us decide on the detail of the new legal duty.
And we have accepted that there is more we can do to ensure those who have suffered get access to the support they need. This is a moment in our history when we can start to do things differently.
Together we must seize it.’
Remedy Law have represented over 90 individuals in relation to the Lambeth Redress Scheme and have secured a maximum award under the Scottish Redress Scheme. Director, Charles Derham, has successfully obtained awards via the Jimmy Savile Scheme and also the States of Jersey Scheme.