Protecting the privacy of victims and survivors

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
November 16, 2015

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/news/protecting-privacy-victims-and-survivors

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has sought to protect the privacy and confidentiality of victims and survivors taking part in the Truth Project process by seeking a special legal ruling.

To help us keep the process confidential, a legal ruling known as a Restriction Order is in place, which has been made to ensure that the Truth Project is, and remains, private and confidential.

Anyone who attends a Truth Project session can tell people that they have shared their experience with us, however they cannot tell anyone, except a professional therapist, counsellor, doctor or other professional with duty of confidentiality, what was actually said in the Truth Project private session itself.

The Order also means that those who attend a session cannot tell anyone the details of any other victims or survivors who have also shared their experience with us. They also cannot disclose the venue where private sessions are being held. This is to ensure that we protect the confidentiality of anyone who chooses to tell us what happened to them.

The Inquiry is also bound by the Order and must keep information confidential. The only exceptions to this would be if the Inquiry needs to pass any information to the police or where otherwise required by law.

The Inquiry must refer any allegations of child sexual abuse to the police. However we will not pass on the contact details of a victim or survivor without their consent, unless it is necessary to protect a child.