UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News
A major inquiry into historical child sex abuse in England and Wales is to examine claims made against local authorities, religious organisations, the armed forces and public and private institutions – as well as people in the public eye.
Why has the inquiry been set up?
Reports of historical sexual abuse have sparked concern in recent years. Following the death of BBC DJ Jimmy Savile in 2011, hundreds of people came forward to say he had abused them as children. The spotlight has also fallen on sexual assaults carried out in schools, children’s homes and at NHS sites.
At the same time, there have been claims of past failures by police and prosecutors to properly investigate allegations.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was set up by the then Home Secretary Theresa May in March 2015. It will be conducted on a statutory basis – meaning it has the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.
An attempt to launch an inquiry in 2014 was abandoned after two proposed chairmen resigned amid victims’ concerns over their links to establishment figures.
How will the inquiry work?
The focus for the IICSA will be on the failures by institutions to protect people under the age of 18 from sexual abuse. A report containing recommendations for the future will be published at the end.
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