The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was established in 2015, and tasked with considering the extent to which state and non-state institutions “failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation”, and to consider what action should be taken to identify and address other outstanding failings. It has produced 19 reports; the last was issued on 20 October 2022, and the inquiry is due to disband in the coming months.
Over this period we have published a number of updates an reviews, and links to those from posted after March 2018* are given below. (Scroll down to indicated heading on links to weekly round-ups). Other aspects of safeguarding are covered here.
2023
Church of England & IICSA Final Report, the National Safeguarding Steering Group, the House of Bishops and the Archbishops’ Council have published a joint response to recommendations in relation to the safeguarding work of the Church of England. (12 January 2023).
2021 and 2022
IICSA statement from Church of England National Safeguarding Director, (26 October 2022).
IICSA, sacramental confession and mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, Recommendation of the final IICSA Report on the introduction of mandatory reporting in England and Wales (20 October 2022).
Church of England: publication of detailed responses to IICSA report, The Church of England’s detailed responses to the recommendations of the IICSA report of October 2020 (20 March 2021).
2020
Church of England statement on IICSA report: update. Further to the Church of England statement on the publication of IICSA report, reported here on 6 November 2020, an update was issued on 16 November 2020, (17 November 2020).
IICSA Report: Roman Catholic Church, On Tuesday 10 November, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published its overarching investigation report into the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church Investigation Report (“the Report”) is based on public hearings held during October and November 2019. (10 November 2020).
Church of England statement on publication of IICSA report. The Church of England has issued the following statement on the publication by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA, of its overarching investigation report into the Anglican Church in England and Wales. (6 October 2020).
IICSA Public Hearing – Child Protection in Religious Organisations The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has announced that a Public hearing in Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings investigation will take place 16 – 27 March. (12 March 2020).
Synod support IICSA recommendations The Church of England has reported that General Synod voted unanimously to endorse the is response to the five recommendations from IICSA, and urged its national safeguarding steering group to work towards a more fully survivor-centred approach to safeguarding, including arrangements for redress for survivors. (12 February 2020).
Church of England’s response to IICSA The following summary of the Church of England’s response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has been published by Meg Munn, Independent Chair, National Safeguarding Panel Church of England. (7 February 2020).
2019
IICSA final hearing – Roman Catholic Church, (21 October 2019).
IICSA Inquiry – Residential Music Schools, (30 September 2019).
IICSA: Some more legal views, Comments on the seal of the confessional. Oral evidence from the Revd Canon Dr Rupert Bursell QC, 4 July 2019, in addition to the transcript, there were three evidence documents from Dr Bursell: ACE025279-1, (8 November 2017); ACE027523, (13 May 2019); and ACE027554, (23 May 2019). (6 July 2019).
IICSA Public Hearing in Anglican Church investigation – Week 2, (4 July 2019).
Church of England response to IICSA report, (29 June 2019).
IICSA Public Hearing in Anglican Church investigation – Week 1, (29 June 2019).
IICSA: publication of Roman Catholic Church Case Study, (20 June 2019).
IICSA: Diocese of Blackburn Letter, A letter from senior clergy in the Diocese of Blackburn, reflecting on IICSA reports on Chichester Diocese and Peter Ball, sent to all Clergy, Readers and Safeguarding Officers in the diocese. (18 June 2019).
IICSA Report: child abuse in religious communities. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published a research report on child sexual abuse in religious institutions, based on accounts shared by survivors at its Truth Project. (30 May 2019).
IICSA Report into the Anglican Church. On Thursday 9 May 2019, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA, published its 252-page report into the Church of England, based on its case studies last year of the Diocese of Chichester and the response to allegations against the former Bishop of Gloucester, Peter Ball. (9 May 2019).
IICSA second seminar on mandatory reporting, (18 April 2019).
IICSA and mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse: update, The IICSA had consulted with the Victims and Survivors Forum, a self-nominating group of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, published a summary of responses: Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse: A survey of the Victims and Survivors Forum, in which the great majority of respondents from the Forum (88.6%) were in favour of introducing mandatory reporting. (17 April 2019).
IICSA 7th preliminary hearing on Anglican investigation, (16 January 2019).
2018
IICSA mandatory reporting seminar – 27th September, Details published of the first of two IICSA seminars on mandatory reporting, (19 September 2018).
Action on IICSA themes backed by General Synod, (7 July 2018)
IICSA Interim Report: Main points. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published its Interim Report on Wednesday 25 April 2018. (26 April 2018).
IICSA Interim Report: Church of England. Press Release from the Church of England. (25 April 2018).
IICSA hearings on Anglican Church – Closing Statement. The Church of England published the following Statement on the IICSA Inquiry into the institutional failures within the Anglican Church. In addition, the Archbishops of York & Canterbury have issued a joint Pastoral Letter“. (23 March 2018).
* Last updated, 17 January 2023 at 18:35.