Behind the scenes we are working hard to get this to fruition, but one way some people can already get their voices heard is through the Independent Inquiry for Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)
If you don’t already know, please see below something that we have put together to explain IICSA to you.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was set up in 2015 to investigate organisations and institutions that have failed to protect children from sexual abuse. The Inquiry is independent from the Government and has the power to compel witnesses to give evidence. As they are independent they have no involvement in any action taken by the police. To date the Inquiry has launched 13 investigations into institutions including Rochdale Borough Council, Lambeth Council, the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
Although the Inquiry investigates institutional failures rather than individual cases, experiences of victims and survivors are obviously central to their task as they cannot begin to understand the patterns of institutional failures without hearing from those who suffered as a consequence of those failures.
One of the core projects of the Inquiry is the Truth Project which allows victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to share their experiences in a supportive and confidential setting.
Accounts are not tested, challenged or contradicted. Information supplied is anonymised and will be considered by the Chair and Panel members when reaching conclusions and making recommendations for the future.
What does it involve?
* You can contact the Truth Project via an online form, phone, email, or by post. This does not commit you to anything and you can leave the process at any time.
* Once you make contact they will contact you to arrange how you would like to share your experience. This can be either in a private session, or you can send a written account if you’d prefer. If you choose to meet in person a trained facilitator and an assistant will meet with you; they will arrange and pay for transport and accommodation if needed. All facilitators have experience of working with victims and survivors.
* It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember everything or choose not to share everything.
* A support worker is available to you for two weeks after. Following this they can signpost you to other support services.
* Taking part is not part of a legal process and does not involve an investigation of your case by the Inquiry. However the Inquiry passes all allegations of child abuse to the police as a requirement of law. Personal details are not passed on unless you consent to this.
* You can still share your experience with the Truth Project even if you are involved in court proceedings.
* You don’t have to give any identifying information if you don’t want to.
* If you contact the truth project because of abuse that happened to you in the Jesus Fellowship Church (also known as the Jesus Army) if possible please highlight this fact.
For further information or to contact the Truth Project please follow this link https://www.iicsa.org.uk/victims-…/how-share-your-experience
Jesus Fellowship Survivors Association 