Humanists UK and Faith to Faithless have responded to the UK Government’s consultation on the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. The consultation follows on from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), with the Government now considering how to implement its recommendations. Humanists UK and Faith to Faithless warned against religious groups being exempted from the legislation, as the Government considers making failure to report child sex abuse a crime.
England currently does not require an adult who becomes aware that a child is being sexually abused to report what has happened to the authorities. By contrast, versions of mandatory reporting apply to most developed and developing countries across the world. Responding to the consultation, Humanists UK and Faith to Faithless stated that any new legislation should include a duty to report knowledge or suspicions of abuse, and criminal sanctions in line with other offences that already include a duty of this nature, such as anti-money laundering offences which carry a prison term of up to 14 years.
IICSA heard testimony from over 7,300 victims and survivors, scores of front line safeguarding professionals, religious and faith leaders, and policy makers such as Amanda Spielman, the head of Ofsted. IICSA’s Chair, Professor Alexis Jay, recommended that all adults working with children, or in a position of trust with children in either a faith or sports setting, and members of the Police, should be subjected to the new duty.
The seal of the confessional for Christians and the Jewish prohibition against reporting a community member to secular authorities are both concerns raised in the response, based on evidence submitted by survivor-led support organisations to the Inquiry. Further, apostates, who Humanists UK supports though its Faith to Faithless programme, will likely find their rights are lost if religious groups are able to opt-out.
Humanists UK’s Public Affairs Manager Karen Wright commented:
’Any new legislation to protect children from sexual abuse must be fit for purpose – it must protect all children, including children from religious families. Religious carve-outs would apply standards that protect institutions at the expense of the children who use them.
‘Legislation to introduce mandatory reporting was first consulted on by the Government as far back as 2016, and it remains an urgent issue to be addressed without delay.’Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Public Affairs Manager Karen Wright at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3009 or 020 3675 0959.
Read more about our work on IICSA
Read the consultation page
Read our consultation response
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