One in ten children in the UK experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16. It happens in families across all communities. Yet most cases go unreported, and it is not talked about enough. When it is discussed, commentators tend to focus on high-profile incidents which are often different in nature to the majority of cases.
Few issues are worthier of focused attention from Parliamentarians. Yet political engagement in this issue – where it happens at all – is often superficial at best, actively unhelpful at worst. The issue makes people uncomfortable, causing many to be reluctant to engage at all.
Three charities who specialise in tackling child sexual abuse – the Marie Collins Foundation, Lucy Faithfull Foundation and the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse – appointed Fourteen Forty (along with our partners Claremont), to help them raise their profile with the new Parliament to drive policy solutions.
Communications strategy
We developed a clear strategy to establish them as the go-to experts in this delicate area, and help the charities to raise their profile with and engage the new intake of MPs, as well as members of the House of Lords.
This meant demonstrating that child sexual abuse isn’t something which only happens “elsewhere” or is only perpetrated by “other” sorts of people. It happens everywhere, including in your neighbourhood, and is carried out by every kind of people.
As such it’s a problem which demands greater engagement, not just across the political spectrum.
But nor is it a counsel of despair. Child sexual abuse is preventable and, with the right practical and policy interventions, much more can be done.
Opening doors
Our Closer to Home report presents the high-level case for change to Parliamentarians, and sets out five areas to concentrate on to help prevent abuse.
The report and additional briefing materials provided for the charities with a toolkit to open doors and engage in higher quality, productive conversations with law-makers and their advisors.