Fighting exploitation
Kathleen Marshall’s report into child sexual exploitation calls for renewed action by the health, education and justice services.
A disturbing report into the sexual exploitation of children in Northern Ireland has challenged policy-makers to do more to protect young people from abuse.
Kathleen Marshall was commissioned to carry out her inquiry in November 2013 and reported back to the health, education and justice ministers in November last year. Marshall was Scotland’s first Children’s Commissioner between 2004 and 2009 after a long career in law and local government.
Her report explains that the increasing role of communication technology in young people’s lives allows more contact and networking to take place and therefore makes more children vulnerable to exploitation. Children are also growing up in an “increasingly sexualised” culture due to influences in the media and online.
Organised exploitation in Northern Ireland is more likely to be carried out by “loose groups of perpetrators” rather than criminal gangs. However, Marshall also highlights claims that powerful individuals linked to paramilitary organisations are using their influence to exploit children and young people. The claims are impossible to confirm as witnesses were reluctant to identify names or locations and some feared reprisals. In addition, some sexual offenders have been punished by paramilitary organisations (rather than the criminal justice system) and their details are therefore not on the sex offenders’ register.
Listening to young people – and taking their views seriously – stands out as a central theme in the report’s conclusions. Exploitation will not be effectively tackled unless action is also taken on the risk factors e.g. neglect, poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, and domestic violence. Prevention and early intervention is essential and needs to be funded in a strategic and long-term way.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has been asked to draw up a regional strategy on preventing and responding to exploitation. The health and social care system should also ensure that adults who were abused as children receive full support.
Marshall makes a point of strongly praising professionals who are fighting exploitation, including social workers who pursue young people who run away from care – even if this exposes themselves to danger. Northern Ireland has “very strong human resources” for tackling the challenges involved.
Responding to the report, Health Minister Jim Wells confirmed that he would set up a response team to look at the recommendations and also bring forward a new child safeguarding policy, revised guidance on sharing information about suspects, an e-safety strategy for Northern Ireland, and a public information campaign.
Education Minister John O’Dowd and Justice Minister David Ford are also considering recommendations made to them, including a review of youth services, a dedicated criminal justice forum on exploitation, and legislative changes to protect all children up to age of 18. The PSNI has been asked to prioritise the building of strong relationships with communities and young people, to improve to flow of information about abuse.
Wells affirmed that all forms of child abuse are totally unacceptable and stated: “I want Northern Ireland to be a safer place for children and young people and the most hostile of environments for those who abuse or exploit children and young people.”
