Today, the Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Hon. Lowell Goddard DNZM, officially opened the Inquiry at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
In her statement, the Chair set out the aims of the Inquiry, described its working methods and outlined its structure.
She confirmed that victims and survivors would be at the heart of the Inquiry. And she laid down the following challenge to those institutions that have a duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse:
"Take a proactive stance towards the Inquiry - review your files, records and procedures voluntarily and take the initiative to self-report instances of institutional failure, rather than waiting for us to come and see you. Above all, review your current safeguarding policies to make sure they are consistent with best practice, and take whatever steps you can to provide a safer environment for children now.”
The full text and summaries of the Chair's opening statement are here: