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IICSA Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Child Migration Programmes Investigation Report
Michael O’Donoghue
Marcelle O’Brien
Executive Summary
Child Migration Programmes
Receiving institutions in Australia featured in the report
Part A. Introduction
Part B. Child Sexual Abuse in the Child Migration Programmes
1. A brief history of child migration
2. Child migrants’ experiences of sexual abuse
Evidence from other inquiries of child sexual abuse
The evidence the Inquiry received from former child migrants
The location and nature of the sexual abuse described by the witnesses
Physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and poor education
Reporting the abuse
“False promises” on migration and lies about family
The impact of the child migration programme on the children
Support and reparations
3. The Inquiry’s approach to the ‘standards’ issues
Introduction
What should child migration institutions in England and Wales have known about sexual abuse?
What would sufficient care to protect child migrants from the risk of sexual abuse have looked like?
How should child migration institutions in England and Wales have responded to allegations or evidence of sexual abuse, during the migration era?
Concluding observations
4. Evolution of the institutional response
Introduction
Pre-War evidence
The Curtis report
The Home Office memorandum, June 1947
Further evidence from 1947 to 1951
The Women’s Group on Public Welfare (WGPW) report, 1951
The Home Office’s draft Regulations, 1952
Common themes from Fairbridge Society’s experience in Canada
John Moss reports, 1951 to 1954
The views of local authority Children’s Officers
The Ross report and reports from Anthony Rouse, 1956
The Outfits and Maintenance agreements, 1957 onwards
The Order of the Christian Brothers' rules
Conclusions
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Part C. Detailed Examination of Institutional Responses
1. Her Majesty’s Government
1.1 What was HMG’s role in child migration?
1.2 What did HMG know about sexual abuse of child migrants and what did it do about it?
1.3 Did HMG take sufficient care to protect child migrants from sexual abuse?
1.4 What has HMG done in the post-migration period?
2. The response of ‘sending’ institutions
2.1 Barnardo’s
2.2 The Fairbridge Society
2.3 The Children’s Society
2.4 The National Children’s Home
2.5 The Royal Overseas League
2.6 Cornwall County Council
2.7 The Salvation Army
2.8 The Church of England Advisory Council for Empire Settlement
2.9 The Sisters of Nazareth
2.10 Father Hudson’s
2.11 The Catholic Church
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Part D. Recommendations
Annexes
1 Overview of process and evidence obtained by the Inquiry
2 Abbreviations
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Child Migration Programmes Investigation Report
Part B. Child Sexual Abuse in the Child Migration Programmes
4. Evolution of the institutional response
4. Evolution of the institutional response
Jump to section
Introduction
Pre-War evidence
The Curtis report
The Home Office memorandum, June 1947
Further evidence from 1947 to 1951
The Women’s Group on Public Welfare (WGPW) report, 1951
The Home Office’s draft Regulations, 1952
Common themes from Fairbridge Society’s experience in Canada
John Moss reports, 1951 to 1954
The views of local authority Children’s Officers
The Ross report and reports from Anthony Rouse, 1956
The Outfits and Maintenance agreements, 1957 onwards
The Order of the Christian Brothers' rules
Conclusions
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Concluding observations
Next
Introduction
Download full report (PDF 2.99 MB)
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