Public Awareness Campaign
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.
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedWe 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.
The Government is committed to continue raising public awareness about the scale and impacts of child sexual abuse. It will step up national communications activity throughout the next year and beyond; continue funding The Children's Society's 'Look Closer' campaign; provide support to disseminate Crimestoppers' Fearless Programme resources in schools; build greater awareness through a comprehensive implementation programme of the new mandatory reporting duty; and continue to support the Lucy Faithfull Foundation's Stop It Now! campaign and its Shore resource for under 18s.
Progress Timeline
Enhanced communications campaign underway; continued funding for 'Look Closer' and Fearless programs; support for Lucy Faithfull Foundation to prevent offending and support survivors.