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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

Child sexual abuse in the context of religious institutions

Coping and recovery

Participants described a wide variety of coping mechanisms they had employed, including suppressing memories or forcing themselves to carry on with their lives regardless. Others talked about actively speaking out about their experiences of abuse, giving something back to their community, choosing to believe in a greater good or seeking validation and justice. For many, recovery was complicated because they had been abused by religious individuals and, subsequently, their belief systems had been challenged.

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