Sarah Champion MP leads a cross-party ‘pledge’ to end child abuse in the UK

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, has been campaigning on child protection for over a decade. Today in Parliament, she held a pledging meeting to end child sexual abuse in the UK, which was supported by nearly 100 cross-party MPs, Peers, victims and survivors.

Attendees heard from panellists from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), as well as victims, survivors and whistleblowers:

·       John O'Brien CBE, Secretary to IICSA

·       David Greenwood, Child Abuse Solicitor and Head of Child Abuse Compensation Department at Switalskis

·       Chris Tuck, Member of Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel to IICSA

·       Jayne Senior MBE, Rotherham whistle-blower

·       The Baroness Newlove, Victims Commissioner for England and Wales

They called on the Government to urgently implement all the recommendations outlined in the IICSA report and its connected ‘grooming gangs’ report. Panellists and attendees demanded ring-fenced funding for each recommendation, with victims and survivors at the heart of delivery.

Sarah is now coordinating a cross-party letter to go to the Prime Minister, which calls for the endemic child abuse in the UK to be treated as a national priority, with urgent and fully resourced action.

Commenting, Sarah Champion MP, said “I am delighted to see nearly 100 cross-party Parliamentarians pledging to end child abuse in the UK. Parliament has always been at its best when it works cross-party to tackle the big issues of national importance. That’s what this event is all about. Nothing is more important than protecting children.”

“I’m pleased the Government has committed to ‘taking forward’ the IICSA recommendations. We must keep the pressure on, to ensure transparency and accountability are embedded throughout this process, with every recommendation fully adopted, and victims and survivors at its centre.”

Commenting, Alexis Jay CBE said, “We know of the appalling and lifelong effects that child sexual abuse can have on people.  During IICSA, we set out what should be done to make sure children are better protected and now look forward to hearing the detail of the Government’s timescale for delivering these recommendations, along with the necessary resourcing.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.    Press release 13/01/25: Sarah Champion MP calls for national inquiry into grooming gangs

2.    Paper 13/01/25: Sarah Champion’s 5 point plan to end child sexual abuse

3.    Press release 17/01/25: Sarah Champion Welcomes Government Adoption of her Five Point Plan for Addressing Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse