The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is seeking views on the effectiveness of the criminal compensation and the civil justice systems for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in England and Wales, with the publication of two issues papers today.
The aim of the issues papers, one on each topic, is to enable individuals and organisations to give their opinions on the two systems via written submissions during an eight-week time period, after which responses will be analysed, and some contributors invited to seminars to explore the general themes identified.
The issues papers are part of the Inquiry’s investigation into accountability and reparation. They consider the extent to which existing support services and legal processes effectively deliver just outcomes to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse where there has been an institutional failure.
The issues papers will look at whether:
processes are accessible for all victims and survivors
processes are conducted in as timely a manner as possible
claims are investigated fairly and claimants/applicants treated equally
claimants/applicants are treated with sensitivity
an apology and/or admission of liability is made (civil justice system)
an appropriate amount of compensation is awarded (Civil and existing procedures for criminal compensation).
Inquiry Chair Hon Dame Lowell Goddard said:
“Many victims and survivors of child sexual abuse may be seeking more than financial compensation, or outcomes other than those currently available through the civil justice system in England and Wales. We want to examine whether, and how effective, current systems and processes are, and hear about the broader outcomes people may want to see.”
Further information about the issues papers and the processes, including timelines, can be found on our issues papers section. The closing date for submissions is noon on 29 September 2016.
In addition to this issues papers process, individual victims and survivors of child sexual abuse wishing to share their experience of either the criminal compensation scheme or the civil justice system in England and Wales may want to consider doing so through the Inquiry’s Truth Project