Following the statement made today, Tuesday 8 April, by Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips MP regarding child sexual abuse and exploitation, the CSE Taskforce welcomes the Government's continued focus and investment in this area, particularly, the additional funding for therapeutic treatment for victims and survivors, as well as the progress on recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

We were encouraged by the minister’s assertion that the “voice of survivors is at the front of everything we do”. Every statistic and headline reflect a person who has suffered unimaginable abuse and exploitation. It is essential that their voices are heard and that their experiences inform our strategies and policies as we work toward meaningful change, education, and progress.

Preventing and responding to child abuse and exploitation is a collective effort that no single agency can tackle alone. It requires coordinated action, from national policy making to local service delivery. As such, we remain committed to working alongside Baroness Casey, and key partners, as she conducts her audit to provide a comprehensive overview of group-based offending across England and Wales.

We will also continue working with the Government on initiatives to enhance the response to child abuse and exploitation to protect those in need, including the creation of a new Child Protection Authority, in line with IICSA recommendations, in addition to the expansion of the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel (CSARP), which will allow victims and survivors of both recent and non-recent crimes to have their cases reviewed if previously marked as ‘no further action.’ More information about the panel is available here.

At the heart of everything we do are victims and survivors. Children deserve to grow up safe in the knowledge that those responsible for protecting them from harm will work relentlessly to prevent abuse, improve outcomes for victims and bring perpetrators to justice.