Recommendation 79: Codes of practice for civil CSA claims
From Accountability and Reparations Investigation Report, published 19 September 2019.
Recommendation
The Local Government Association and the Association of British Insurers should each produce codes of practice for responding to civil claims of child sexual abuse. The codes should include recognition of the long-term emotional and psychiatric or psychological effects of child sexual abuse on victims and survivors, and acknowledgement that these effects may make it difficult for victims and survivors to disclose that they have been sexually abused and to initiate civil claims for that abuse. The codes should also include guidance that: 1. claimants should be treated sensitively throughout the litigation process; 2. the defence of limitation should only be used in exceptional circumstances; 3. single experts jointly instructed by both parties should be considered for the assessment of the claimants' psychiatric, psychological or physical injuries; and 4. wherever possible, claimants should be offered apologies, acknowledgement, redress and support.
In brief (written by this site)
In August 2021, the Association of British Insurers published a code of practice for responding to civil claims of child sexual abuse, stating that the guidance was produced to improve aspects of the civil claims process within insurers' control, including approaches to limitation, apologies, and the use of confidentiality agreements (Association of British Insurers response, Aug 2021). The record holds no update since the Association of British Insurers' response of August 2021 (Association of British Insurers response, Aug 2021).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
This ABI Code of Practice: Responding to Civil Claims of Child Sexual Abuse has been produced with the aim of improving certain aspects of the civil claims process that are within insurers’ control for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. It addresses issues identified by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in its Accountability and Reparations Investigation Report, including insurers’ approaches to limitation (the law requiring that certain civil claims, including child sexual abuse claims, must be brought within three years of the incident or three years from the date the claimant turns the age of 18) and apologies, and also other areas of the civil claims process that may have caused distress for victims and survivors, including the use of confidentiality agreements.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Association of British Insurers has been found in the sources searched (last checked 2 October 2026). This is separate from the response above.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Association of British Insurers
Response