Dunlop: Group child abuse inquiry must deliver justice, not just recommendations
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Duncan Dunlop
Credit: Scottish Parliament [Open Scottish Parliament Licence]
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP and former chief executive of Who Cares Scotland Duncan Dunlop has called on the Scottish Government to ensure the independent Scottish inquiry into group-based sexual abuse and exploitation of children not only puts survivors at its centre but ensures they can get meaningful justice.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, the government unveiled the terms of reference for the inquiry and confirmed it will begin on 11 November under the leadership of Professor Alexis Jay.
Responding to the statement, Duncan Dunlop said: “The inquiry is one essential part of rectifying the failure to prevent horrific abuse, but survivors must also be able to access justice.
“We need to know what the inquiry will deliver for survivors, and what consequences will be visited upon those who have allowed them to fall victim to horrific organised exploitation and abuse.
“There’s a real danger that the inquiry will produce yet another set of recommendations about better partnership-working, information-sharing and training – only for children to again find that very little changes in practice.
“We already have the Promise, child protection guidance and years of reviews identifying failings in how we protect children. The Government must ensure that this inquiry will not simply add to this list of shortfalls and failures.”
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