Meeting for Sufferings: Safeguarding
Meeting for Sufferings considered how Friends should respond to a request from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
In 2014 the then home secretary Theresa May announced an Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The Inquiry has asked the Religious Society of Friends, along with other faith bodies, to contribute to an investigation into child protection. Meeting for Sufferings (MfS) received a paper explaining more about the Inquiry, and looked at how Friends should respond.
The aim of the investigation is to look at whether there are common issues across religious organisations, and consider how they can be addressed. More generally, IICSA has been set up to learn from the past, particularly from the experience of survivors.
‘Every Friend needs to play our part in making sure our Quaker communities are safe,’ said the deputy recording clerk in her report. ‘It’s important to acknowledge the fact of child sexual abuse and address the issues.’
A representative from the south east took local responsibility for this at her Meeting. ‘My big plea is: I need back up,’ she said. ‘We need to make it everybody’s business.’
Friends were reminded of our Society’s ongoing commitment to: ‘the care, respect and nurture of all vulnerable groups encountered within Quaker activities; the safeguarding and protection of children and other vulnerable people; the promotion of a culture of good practice in relation to activities promoted by Quaker Meetings and groups; and maintaining and developing procedures and good practice guidelines.’
‘We recognise there will be much to learn from this process as we go forward,’ said the minute, ‘and commit to continuing to improve our safeguarding practice.’
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