Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups: One year on - publication by the Children's Commissioner
It has been one year since the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) published the final report of their ground-breaking Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups.
Using their unique statutory powers, they gathered a huge body of evidence and published six influential reports covering children in care; the prevalence and nature of child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups; the impact on children of viewing adult pornography; young people’s understanding of consent; sexual exploitation in gang-involved neighbourhoods; and the final report which set out a framework for tackling this crime and supporting victims.
This report sets out the progress that has been made in tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE) in England since the Inquiry.
Additional reports from the inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation on Gangs and Groups: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/info/csegg1
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) is a national public sector organisation led by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dr Maggie Atkinson, which promotes and protects children’s rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and, as appropriate, other human rights legislation and conventions.
They do this by listening to what children and young people say about things that affect them and encouraging adults making decisions to take their views and interests into account.
They publish evidence, including that collected directly from children and young people, bringing matters that affect their rights to the attention of Parliament, the media, children and young people themselves, and society at large. They also provide advice on children’s rights to policy-makers, practitioners and others.
The post of Children’s Commissioner for England was established by the Children Act 2004. The Act makes them responsible for working on behalf of all children in England and in particular, those whose voices are least likely to be heard. It says they must speak for wider groups of children on the issues that are not devolved to regional Governments. These include immigration, for the whole of the UK, and youth justice, for England and Wales.
The Children and Families Act 2014 changed the Children’s Commissioner’s remit and role. It provided the legal mandate for the Commissioner and those who work in support of her remit at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner to promote and protect children’s rights. In particular, they are expected to focus on the rights of children within the new section 8A of the Children Act 2004, or other groups of children whom they consider are at particular risk of having their rights infringed. This includes those who are in or leaving care or living away from home, and those receiving social care services. The Bill also allows them to provide advice and assistance to, and to represent, these children.