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Call for Implementation of Child Abuse Reforms
Professor Alexis Jay, the head of a significant inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales, has emphasized the urgent need for the complete execution of reforms recommended in her 2022 report, which identified a pervasive issue of abuse throughout society.
Leading the campaign group Act on IICSA, Prof Jay stated that government officials should adhere to a definitive timeline for executing the recommendations proposed by the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The current government has expressed its support for these changes.
The campaign group highlighted concerns about the “politicization” of sexual violence and sought to combat “misinformation” surrounding the issue. Prof Jay clarified her stance, rejecting calls from the Conservative party and Reform UK for a new investigation into grooming gangs.
The IICSA inquiry was initiated in 2015 and has conducted 15 investigations covering various aspects, including grooming gangs, school abuse, and church-related incidents. Prof Jay previously led a pivotal local inquiry in Rotherham, where it was estimated that around 1,400 children were subjected to exploitation between 1997 and 2013, mainly by perpetrators of Pakistani descent.
The final report from IICSA, published in 2022, included 20 essential recommendations aimed at alleviating child suffering. Notable among these recommendations was the establishment of a national child protection authority, stricter criteria for individuals working with vulnerable children, legislative measures compelling technology companies to address online abuse, and criminalizing the failure to report abuse.
In a statement released on Sunday, Act on IICSA asserted that politicizing sexual violence obscures its lifelong impacts and obstructs necessary systemic reforms that need to be enacted without delay.
Prof Jay reiterated the group’s mission, stating, “We are not advocating for new inquiries but are calling for the full implementation of the IICSA recommendations.” A spokesperson from the Home Office indicated that the government is actively working to put these recommendations into action.
Previously, Prof Jay expressed her frustration with the prior Conservative government’s sluggish progress on these reforms, describing their response as inadequate—a claim the Home Office contested at the time.
Expectations are high for Sir Keir Starmer, as he is set to address the media concerning the NHS while also likely fielding questions about the controversy surrounding grooming gangs in relation to Prof Jay’s comments.
In defense of his past as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Prime Minister is likely to highlight his decisions to prosecute individuals involved in grooming gangs in Rochdale and the restructuring of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to tackle such issues.
On the same day, Act on IICSA noted that recent media portrayals of child sexual abuse have ignited a “troubling trend of misinformation” that detracts from the genuine scale of the issue and the urgent need for reform.
During an interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Health Secretary Wes Streeting affirmed the government’s commitment to progressing with the implementation of the recommendations.
These discussions follow a call from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for a national public inquiry into the so-called “rape gangs scandal,” a sentiment echoed by Reform leader Nigel Farage.
The topic gained renewed attention when Home Office minister Jess Phillips rejected a request from Oldham Council for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, instead supporting a local investigation. This decision faced criticism from prominent figures within the Conservative and Reform parties, and Elon Musk also contributed to outrage on social media regarding the government’s stance.
Source
www.bbc.com