Amplifying Voices – Confronting Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse
1 January 2025
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has released a report titled "I Wanted Them All to Notice," focusing on the pervasive issue of child sexual abuse within family environments.
The report reveals that intrafamilial child sexual abuse remains a significant concern, with many cases going unreported due to stigma, fear, and familial loyalty. Children often struggle to disclose abuse, and professionals may lack the training or confidence to identify and respond effectively to such cases.
Significant findings from the report include:
- Children’s Voices – Many children felt unheard and unsupported, with their subtle cues and disclosures often overlooked by professionals.
- Professional Hesitancy – A lack of confidence and training among professionals leads to missed opportunities for intervention and support.
- Known Risks Ignored – In over a third of the cases reviewed, individuals known to pose a risk of sexual harm were not adequately monitored or restricted, allowing abuse to occur.
The report recommends enhancing training for professionals to recognise and respond to signs of intrafamilial abuse, creating a culture where children’s voices are prioritised and believed. It also calls for systemic changes to ensure that known risks are addressed promptly and effectively to prevent further harm.
This report serves as a critical call to action to improve the safeguarding system’s response to child sexual abuse within families, ensuring that children’s voices are heard and their safety is prioritised.