Child abuse inquiry chief criticises inaction in parliament
The Guardian|November 09, 2024
A "once-in-a-lifetime" chance to protect children is at risk of being squandered by the UK government, a leading expert has warned.
Libby Brooks
Child abuse inquiry chief criticises inaction in parliament

Prof Alexis Jay, the former chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA), said she was still pressing Labour ministers for a commitment to introduce her recommendations made at the conclusion of the seven-year inquiry in 2022.

Jay also warned that the failure to introduce mandatory reporting in England and Wales - making it an offence not to report allegations of child sexual abuse - could also be used as an excuse for lack of action in Scotland, where a similar inquiry, which has been running for nine years, has yet to conclude.

After hearing of repeated instances where disclosures by children and their families were not followed up, enabling often systemic abuse in children's homes, boarding schools and religious institutions to continue, in 2022 Jay's inquiry recommended a new criminal offence for people working in positions of trust who fail to report such allegations.

This story is from the November 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

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This story is from the November 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

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