Survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation are to be given a role in shaping government policy through an advisory panel.
The government has pledged up to £1m to fun the panel, which will be run by the victims commissioner for England and Wales and launch in spring 2027.
Satvir Kaur, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said too often decisions were made for survivors rather than with them.
‘Victims and survivors know better than anyone what changes we need,’ she said. ‘This panel will ensure survivor’s voices are where they need to be: right at the heart of decision-making for tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation and supporting victims.’
Claire Waxman, the victims commissioner, added the panel aims to move beyond ‘tokenistic engagement’ and said ‘real reform means not just listening but acting’.
Waxman will lead recruitment for the panel, which is expected to open later this year. Adults aged 18 and over who have experienced child sexual abuse and exploitation can apply.
Figures from the NSPCC show around one in 20 children in the UK have experienced sexual abuse and roughly 50,000 children in England and Wales suffer child sexual abuse annually.
Ciara Bergman, chief executive of Rape Crisis England and Wales, has welcomed the news, stating people who have experienced such trauma ‘bring vital and much needed knowledge and lived expertise, and we’re hopeful that their involvement can help make practical improvements as well as holding government to account.’
News of the panel comes after the launch of a website to support people who have reported child sexual abuse or exploitation but had their cases closed.
Image: Edi Libedinsky/UnSplash
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