Changes to the law to benefit survivors of past child sexual abuse must be implemented without delay, campaigners warn.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) final report published today (20 October) includes a recommendation to lift the limitation period, or ‘time bar’, for survivors to bring civil claims against their abusers.
“The panel has made the only fair and ethical recommendation on this issue,” said APIL executive committee member Kim Harrison, who provided oral evidence to the inquiry.
“Trauma, shame, mistrust in authorities, fear, and an instinct to protect their families from the stigma of abuse are just some of the very valid reasons why people hold back on speaking out, let alone take the step to seek justice,” Ms Harrison explained.
“It is unacceptable that the law in England and Wales expects survivors to bring their cases within three years of the abuse, or within three years of turning 18 if they were abused as a child,” she said.
“For survivors to be willing finally to go through the ordeal of proving their cases only to then discover they were not quick enough to act can be devastating for them.
“There are many other jurisdictions which have already abolished the time limit including Scotland,” she went on.
“It is imperative that this recommendation is acted upon without delay. The law needs to recognise that survivors of childhood sexual abuse are unique and almost always seek justice later than other injured people – for very good reasons,” she said.