Advocating for Stronger Safeguards: The UK’s Commitment to IICSA Recommendations and the Path Forward
Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA) welcomes the UK government’s commitment to advancing the recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). This pivotal step forward will serve to enhance the safeguarding of children, offer a stronger voice to survivors, and create a more responsive, accountable system for child protection.
Child sexual abuse is one of the most devastating forms of abuse a child can endure, leaving lasting trauma and a ripple effect that impacts communities. Recent data underscores the severity of this issue:
Prevalence: Approximately 1 in 6 children in the UK have been sexually abused.
Source: Rape Crisis
Recorded Offences: In the 2023/24 period, police recorded 26,299 child abuse offences in England and Wales, marking a significant increase from previous years.
Source: Statista
Online Grooming: Offences related to sexual communication with a child have risen by 89% since 2017/18, with over 7,000 cases recorded in 2023/24.
Source: NSPCC
As an organisation dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic abuse, STADA is encouraged by the government's plans to bring about significant changes to the way child sexual abuse is reported, investigated, and supported.
Key Recommendations and Advocacy Focus:
Support for Mandatory Reporting: STADA fully supports the government's move to criminalise the failure of professionals to report suspected child sexual abuse. This legislation is vital in the fight against abuse, as early identification and intervention are crucial for preventing further harm. We encourage the government to implement a clear framework that ensures all professionals working with children—whether in education, healthcare, or law enforcement—are fully trained and held accountable.
Comprehensive Implementation of IICSA’s Recommendations: The full implementation of all 20 recommendations made by IICSA is essential for ensuring that no child is left unprotected. This includes the establishment of a national redress scheme for survivors, as well as the creation of a Child Protection Authority responsible for overseeing safeguarding practices across the country. STADA urges the government to take immediate steps to ensure the proper resourcing and governance of these measures.
Sustainable Funding for Support Services: As the government rolls out these critical reforms, STADA emphasises the importance of securing adequate, sustainable funding for child protection and support services. Survivors must have access to the necessary resources to begin their healing process. We call on the government to prioritise long-term funding for victim support organisations, healthcare providers, and legal services that specialise in trauma-informed care.
A Survivor-Centred, Multi-Agency Approach: The implementation of IICSA's recommendations must be accompanied by a collaborative, multi-agency approach that centres the needs of survivors, particularly children and young people. For these reforms to truly make a difference, all relevant agencies—local authorities, law enforcement, and child advocacy groups—must work together to create a seamless, survivor-centred experience. It is crucial that survivors are not retraumatised by the very systems that are meant to protect them.
Training for Professionals Working with Children and Young People: STADA advocates for comprehensive and ongoing training for professionals working directly with children and young people, ensuring that they are equipped with the skills to identify, respond to, and prevent abuse. This training should cover not only how to report abuse but also how to interact with victims in a way that empowers them and respects their dignity. Child-focused training is essential to improve the outcomes for children seeking justice.
Support for Children and Young People: For child survivors, recovery is a complex and often lifelong journey. Access to safe, trauma-informed therapeutic support should be made readily available to all children and young people who experience abuse. STADA calls on the government to expand mental health services that are specifically tailored to the needs of child survivors of sexual abuse.
Recommendations for Effective Lobbying: As STADA continues its advocacy work, we urge the government and key stakeholders to consider the following lobbying priorities:
Mandate Regular Reviews and Assessments: To ensure that reforms are being implemented as intended and are having the desired impact, STADA recommends that regular reviews be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the changes made. These reviews should involve input from survivors, service providers, and experts in the field of child protection.
Ensure Consistent Funding for All Services: In order for the system to be truly effective, funding for services must be consistent and equitable across regions. We recommend that the government implement a system that ensures that all local authorities receive the necessary resources to provide timely and adequate support for survivors of abuse.
Lobby for Stronger Safeguarding Oversight: The creation of a Child Protection Authority is a step in the right direction, but further lobbying is needed to ensure that the authority has the resources, legal powers, and independence necessary to enforce safeguarding standards across all sectors.
Promote Public Awareness Campaigns: STADA strongly advocates for public awareness campaigns that both educate the public about child sexual abuse and destigmatise the process of reporting abuse. Such campaigns can lead to earlier intervention and support for survivors, as well as shift public attitudes toward prioritising child safety and well-being.
Conclusion: STADA remains committed to working alongside the UK government, law enforcement agencies, and the wider sector to support these transformative reforms. By ensuring that these recommendations are implemented comprehensively, we can create a safer environment for children, offer justice to survivors, and strengthen the resilience of future generations. STADA will continue to lobby for the necessary resources and multi-agency collaboration to bring about meaningful change that empowers survivors and prevents further abuse.
Cherryl Henry-Leach, CEO of Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, shares,
"STADA strongly believes that a survivor-centric, multi-agency approach is essential in addressing the complex nature and impacts of child sexual abuse. This must be supported by well-resourced services and professionals who are adequately trained to recognise, respond to, and prevent abuse. We are encouraged by the government's commitment to implementing the IICSA recommendations, but we stress the importance of sustainable funding and comprehensive training for frontline workers. Only then can we ensure that children and young people receive the protection, care, and justice they deserve."