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IICSA published its final Report in October 2022. This website was last updated in January 2023.

IICSA Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Final report

K.10: Recommendations to better protect children from sexual abuse

122. The Inquiry has encountered extensive failures – by a range of statutory agencies as well as other institutions and organisations – to keep pace with the increase in the pernicious and constantly evolving sexual abuse of children. Those State and non-State institutional failings identified across the Inquiry’s work suggest that large numbers of victims and survivors have been let down by the institutions that should have protected them, today as well as in the past. Addressing the past and present concerns requires prompt and effective action.

123. This report includes the Inquiry’s 20 concluding recommendations (including six from earlier reports which are reiterated). In total, the Inquiry has made 107 recommendations during the course of its work to 33 specified institutions as well as a number of other organisations and settings (see Annex 3). Those recommendations are designed to provide a comprehensive response by the State, as well as institutions and organisations which work with children, to address the very current problems in preventing, reporting and responding to child sexual abuse. Together they will better protect children from sexual abuse and the harm that results.

The concluding recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

  1. A single set of core data relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation.
  2. Child Protection Authorities for England and for Wales.
  3. A cabinet-level Minister for Children.
  4. A public awareness campaign.
  5. Prohibiting the use of pain compliance techniques.
  6. The amendment of the Children Act 1989.
  7. Registration of care staff in children’s homes.
  8. Registration of staff in care roles in young offender institutions and secure training centres.
  9. Greater use of the Disclosure and Barring Service barred list.
  10. Improvements to compliance with statutory duties to refer concerns to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
  11. Extending the disclosure regime to those working with children overseas.
  12. Pre-screening for illegal images of children.
  13. Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in certain circumstances.
  14. Compliance with the Victims’ Code.
  15. The removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.
  16. A national guarantee of specialist therapeutic support for child victims.
  17. A code of practice on access to records about child sexual abuse.
  18. Further changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
  19. A tiered redress scheme.
  20. Age verification in relation to online services and social media platforms.

 

124. The Inquiry expects the UK government, the Welsh Government and the specified institutions to act upon its recommendations promptly. In the interests of transparency and openness, the Inquiry asks that each institution publish details of the steps they will take in response to each recommendation in this report, including the timetable involved, within six months of the publication of this report. It is anticipated that, in due course, implementation of, or compliance with, the Inquiry’s recommendations will be regularly monitored and reported upon by the Child Protection Authorities for England and for Wales, and that pending the establishment of these agencies the Minister for Children and the equivalent minister in Wales will undertake the same role. It is the hope and expectation of the Inquiry that reporting should happen at least annually, in order to ensure the focus and prioritisation of the improvements necessary better to protect children in England and Wales from sexual abuse.

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