Don’t blame the victim

While the debate about having another Inquiry into grooming gangs continues, the recommendations already made, remain just that, they have never been put into practice. Children have been failed, children have been put at risk and children continue to be blamed for their own abuse. We as a society need to change. Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation is an uncomfortable subject, of course it is , but being uncomfortable about it isn’t going to help children, nor make the changes. Children have been blamed for their own abuse for decades, if not centuries. It was common practice within the Catholic Church to move the poor, innocent priest to another Parish and away from the risk, the evil, seductive child. This did not address the issue, it led to more and more children being abused. Children in orphanages and young women in mother and baby homes were blamed for their situation, the children were evil and ‘fallen women’ had brought their misfortune on themselves, they were all sinners, and were often abused within these institutions. But it was their fault, apparently. In cities like Rotherham, Telford, and so many others, there are so many willing to predate on children. Judges refer to sexualised children, child prostitutes etc etc, giving them an agency and level of understanding far beyond their chronological age and creating the belief that these children were willing, were seductive, and were responsible for their actions. Wrong. A child is never responsible for the actions of an adult. As a society we need to change, we need to protect and not blame children. We need to see them as children first and foremost, we need to hold those who seek to abuse our children to account, regardless of ethnicity, place in oociety or any other factor. We need to educate ourselves at every level of society and in every profession involved with children. We need to be aware of our discomfort and use that to challenge adults whose behaviour is a concern, and take action to protect the child at risk. We need to put the recommendations into action and hold to account those, in all professions, who failed these children and prosecute those who abuse children or who turn a blind eye.