F.1: Introduction
1. The majority of victims and survivors did not disclose child sexual abuse at the time that it was happening. Just 33 percent of Truth Project participants who discussed disclosure said that they disclosed that they were being sexually abused at the time.[1] Most disclosed to a parent, the police or someone within the institution in which they were abused (Figure F.1).
People to whom Truth Project participants disclosed at the time of their child sexual abuse
Figure F.1: People to whom Truth Project participants disclosed at the time of their child sexual abuse
Long Description
2. Amongst those who did disclose child sexual abuse at the time, the majority said that they did not receive the help and protection that they needed. Victims and survivors often said that the person to whom they disclosed responded inadequately. Many victims and survivors were accused of lying, were blamed or were silenced. These experiences were common, whether victims and survivors disclosed as children in the 1950s or 2010s. Victims and survivors commonly said that negative responses to disclosures meant they never wanted to talk about their experiences of child sexual abuse again.
3. Although victims and survivors who participated in the Inquiry’s work often described negative experiences of disclosure, some did report action being taken. For example, 7 percent of Truth Project participants said that the institution to whom they disclosed contacted the police. Other participants described being removed from the abusive environment (7 percent), the perpetrator being removed (7 percent) or receiving counselling and support (2 percent). Victims and survivors who described action being taken in response to their disclosure were in the minority.