The child abuse inquiry was meant to move the dial. Three years on, nothing has changed – The Independent

Executive Summary: IICSA Findings and Inaction in the Context of Global Development Goals

A review of the aftermath of the UK’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) reveals a significant failure to implement key recommendations three years after its final report. This inaction directly contravenes the principles of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which calls for an end to abuse and violence against children (Target 16.2). The inquiry, which cost £186.6 million and involved over 7,000 survivors, exposed systemic institutional failures. The subsequent lack of government action undermines progress towards ensuring child safety, promoting well-being (SDG 3), and building accountable institutions.

Institutional Failings: A Violation of SDG 16

The IICSA report provided a damning indictment of institutional accountability, highlighting a profound failure to protect vulnerable children. This represents a direct challenge to the objectives of SDG 16, which seeks to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Case Study Findings

• Lambeth Council: The inquiry detailed institutional failings where the council retained employees who posed a known risk to children and failed to investigate credible suspicions of child sexual abuse.
• Chichester Diocese (Anglican Church): The report found that over a 50-year period, the diocese exhibited a culture of tolerance for abusive behaviour, neglecting the physical and spiritual well-being of children and contradicting its core mission.

These cases illustrate a systemic breakdown in governance and oversight, failing the core tenet of SDG 16.2 to “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.”

Human Impact and the Imperative of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The inquiry brought to light the severe and lasting “pain and trauma” inflicted upon survivors, underscoring the critical importance of SDG 3. The failure to provide justice and implement protective measures perpetuates harm and impedes the well-being of affected individuals.

Survivor Testimonies

• Survivors reported significant emotional distress upon the announcement and during the course of the inquiry, reliving past trauma.
• A persistent feeling of “no justice” has been expressed by participants, who note the lack of tangible change and accountability following the inquiry’s conclusion.
• The inquiry process itself, while intended to uncover truth, was noted by its chair, Professor Alexis Jay, as having limitations in delivering criminal justice, instead focusing on describing events and recommending future improvements.

Protecting children from abuse is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

A Blueprint for Change: The 20 Recommendations

The IICSA report culminated in 20 key recommendations, forming a comprehensive blueprint for strengthening child protection frameworks. The implementation of these measures is essential for the UK to align its domestic policy with its international commitments to the SDGs.

Status of Implementation

Three years after the report’s publication, none of the 20 recommendations have been fully implemented. This inertia signals a lack of political will and poses a continued risk to children, leaving the nation’s child protection strategy misaligned with global standards.

Key Proposed Actions for SDG Alignment

1. Mandatory Reporting: Establishing a legal duty for individuals in relevant positions to report child sexual abuse.
2. Child Protection Authority: Creating a new national authority for England to prioritize and oversee child safety.
3. Legal Reform: Amending the Sexual Offences Act to broaden the definition of a person in a position of trust to include clergy.
4. Civil Claims Reform: Making it easier for victims and survivors to pursue claims in civil courts.

These actions are critical steps toward building the “strong institutions” envisioned in SDG 16 and ensuring a protective environment for children.

Conclusion: Urgent Call to Action for SDG Commitment

The continued failure to act on the IICSA’s findings represents a critical lapse in national responsibility and a departure from the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. Experts, including Professor Jay, warn that without commitment to this blueprint, children will remain at risk from abuse, including emerging online threats. Advocacy groups and survivors continue to call for the government to translate its stated intentions into concrete legislative and institutional reforms. Fulfilling the IICSA’s recommendations is not merely a matter of domestic policy but a fundamental test of the UK’s commitment to justice, health, and the universal right of every child to be safe from harm, as enshrined in the SDGs.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article’s central theme is the failure of institutions (Lambeth council, Chichester Diocese) to protect children from sexual abuse, the subsequent independent inquiry (IICSA) to investigate these failures, and the call for justice and institutional reform. This directly aligns with the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions and ensuring justice for all.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article explicitly mentions the “pain and trauma” experienced by survivors like Russell Specterman. The long-term psychological impact of child sexual abuse is a critical health issue, connecting the article’s content to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being, particularly mental health.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • The entire article is about child sexual abuse. It discusses the widespread nature of the problem, citing an estimate that “500,000 children sexually abused every year.” The IICSA inquiry was established specifically to address this form of violence against children.
2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • Survivors’ experiences reflect a struggle for justice. Mr. Specterman feels there has been “no justice.” Professor Jay notes the limitations of a public inquiry, which “can’t do” criminal prosecution but can make recommendations. The failure to implement the 20 key recommendations, including a simple legislative change to the Sexual Offences Act, highlights a systemic barrier to justice for victims.
3. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The article details the “institutional failings” of Lambeth council and the Chichester Diocese, which “failed to investigate its employees when they were suspected of child sexual abuse.” The IICSA report is described as a “clear blueprint for change” aimed at reforming these institutions to make them more accountable and effective in protecting children.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The article highlights the severe mental health consequences of abuse. Mr. Specterman describes breaking down in tears and the “pain and trauma” the inquiry would bring up. This points directly to the need to address the mental health and well-being of survivors, which is a core component of this target. The inclusion of support hotlines at the end of the article further underscores this connection.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

1. For Target 16.2 (End violence against children):
   • Prevalence of child sexual abuse: The article cites the statistic that an “estimated 500,000 children sexually abused every year.” A reduction in this number would be a direct indicator of progress.
   • Rate of disclosure: The article mentions that “fewer than one in five ever disclosing their abuse.” An increase in the rate of disclosure could indicate greater trust in institutions and support systems.
2. For Target 16.3 (Access to justice):
   • Implementation of legal recommendations: The article states that “none of the recommendations have been fully implemented” three years after the IICSA report. The number and percentage of the 20 recommendations implemented, such as amending the Sexual Offences Act, would be a clear indicator of progress.
   • Number of prosecutions and convictions: The article mentions the successful prosecution of a church minister. Tracking the number of investigations, prosecutions, and convictions for child sexual abuse serves as an indicator of the justice system’s effectiveness.
3. For Target 16.6 (Effective institutions):
   • Establishment of new child protection bodies: The government’s plan to establish a “new Child Protection Authority for England” is a specific, measurable action. Its creation and effectiveness would be key indicators.
   • Implementation of mandatory reporting duties: The proposed “mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse” is another concrete institutional reform. Its legal enactment and enforcement would measure progress towards creating more accountable institutions.

Indicators for SDG 3 Target

1. For Target 3.4 (Promote mental health):
   • Availability of survivor support services: While not a quantitative metric within the text, the article’s mention of the “pain and trauma” of survivors and the listing of support services like Childline, NSPCC, and Napac implies that the availability, funding, and accessibility of such mental health services for survivors are crucial indicators of progress in promoting well-being.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: independent.co.uk