02/09/2021
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA has today published its report on its Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings investigation.
The Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings investigation examined child protection policies and safeguarding cultures in religious organisations in England and Wales. These included Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, Methodists, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism and non-conformist Christian denominations. This thematic report is based on 16 days of public hearings held during March, May and August last year.
The Anglican Church in England and Wales was the subject of its own IICSA investigation strand with three separate hearings in 2018/19 and a full report in October 2020.
Of the two recommendations in today’s report, the one directed at religious institutions is being addressed by our current work in safeguarding regarding the requirement to have in place appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures and the Church of England has already published detailed responses to the Inquiry’s recommendations in its own investigation strand.
We also note the Inquiry will return to a number of issues in its final report including regulation of the voluntary sector in respect of religious organisations and we await further detail on this.
If you or anyone you are in contact with is affected by abuse within the Church of England and want to talk to someone independently please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or email [email protected]. There are also other support services available.
Alternatively, you may contact the diocesan safeguarding team in your area.