MP report says not enough is being done to tackle current child sexual abuse concerns
The Child Protection All Party Parliamentary Group has issued six recommendations for the prevention of child sexual abuse and better support for victims. The group highlights concerns that, despite progress, the current Government's response to child sexual abuse is too fractured, meaning that some areas are not receiving enough attention and children may be being left at risk
Promoting the MPs' findings, the NSPCC said the report is an attempt to shift the focus away from high profile historical abuse cases, such as Jimmy Saville and Operation Yew Tree, by instead bringing attention to "children suffering now".
The All-Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by Labour MP Meg Munn, launched a series of seminar on child sexual abuse in autumn 2013, bringing together parliamentarians, child protection professionals, charities and young people to discuss topics including intra-familial abuse, peer-to-peer abuse and young people’s harmful sexual behaviour, as well as prevention of child sexual abuse within institutions.
The final report, Recommendations for the prevention of child sexual abuse and better support for victims, summarises the findings of the seminars and the six recommendations the group make as a result. It highlights concerns that, despite progress, the current Government response to child sexual abuse is fractured, meaning that certain aspects are not receiving the necessary attention and children may be being left at risk.
The six recommendations to Government include calls for improved training, clarity on information sharing, a more consistent response to harmful sexual behaviour, better support for victims, and improved whistleblowing and reporting mechanisms.