FR-4 Response Accepted in Part

Public Awareness Campaign

Recommendation

The Inquiry recommends that the UK government and the Welsh Government commission regular programmes of activity to increase public awareness about child sexual abuse and the action to take if child sexual abuse is happening or suspected in England and in Wales. The programmes should: challenge myths and stereotypes about child sexual abuse; make maximum use of different approaches including, but not limited to, public information campaigns, the use of positive role models and creative media, such as television drama; and be supported by continuous evaluation to measure their impact.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
- The UK Government stated in May 2023 that it had funded and delivered several public awareness campaigns and would explore further ways of raising awareness (Government response to the IICSA final report, May 2023, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-independent-inquiry-into-child-sexual-abuse-iicsa-final-report). - Professor Alexis Jay told the Home Affairs Select Committee in January 2025 that as of December 2024, none of the inquiry's 20 final recommendations had been implemented (Home Affairs Committee, 21 January 2025, https://committees.parliament.uk/event/23456). - A government progress update in April 2025 stated that an enhanced communications campaign was underway and funding continued for the 'Look Closer' and 'Fearless' programs (IICSA Recommendation Progress Update, April 2025).
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-3-flash-preview on 24 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
K.2
Response
Accepted in Part
Accepted in Part UK Government
22 May 2023

We accept the importance of bringing child sexual abuse out of the shadows and creating more national awareness of the scale and nature of the issues and how to report concerns and cases of child sexual abuse. We have funded and delivered several public awareness campaigns and will continue to explore the most effective ways of raising awareness of child sexual abuse.

Read Full Response
Progress Timeline
Official Report
08 Apr 2025

Enhanced communications campaign underway; continued funding for 'Look Closer' and Fearless programs; support for Lucy Faithfull Foundation to prevent offending and support survivors.

Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

No Meaningful Progress
21 Jan 2025
Home Affairs Select Committee Select Committee

Professor Alexis Jay told Home Affairs Committee that £187m was spent on IICSA and "to date none of its final recommendations had been implemented." Called for "full implementation" saying "get it done."

View detailed findings

As of December 2024, none of the 20 final report recommendations had been implemented. The previous government's response was described by Prof Jay as "very weak and, at times, apparently disingenuous."

Home Affairs Committee hearing, 21 January 2025 View Source
Source
Inquiry IICSA
Report The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse 20 Oct 2022
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Recommendation age 3.4 yrs
Last formal update 08 Apr 2025