Protecting children from harm: A critical assessment of child sexual abuse in the family network in England and priorities for action, is a report published in 2015 by the Children’s Commissioner. It was the outcome of an Inquiry launched in July 2014 into child sexual abuse in the family environment, which found that only 1 in 8 victims of sexual abuse come to the attention of the police and children’s services, and further that up to two thirds of all sexual abuse happens in and around the family. The report called for urgent action to reduce the prevalence of child sexual abuse, including a number of specific recommendations:
- strengthening of professional practice in identifying children who are being sexual abused;
- equipping young people with the knowledge to recognise abuse and access help when they are worried;
- improvement in the processes for the investigation of sexual abuse in order to minimise their impact on children
The full report, as well as a summary and version specifically for young people are available through the Children’s Commissioners website.
Children’s Commissioner of England
Protecting children from harm: A critical assessment of child sexual abuse in the family network in England and priorities for action
24 November 2015