Religious organisations and communities are frequent targets of abusers.
Religious institutions are often well-placed and strongly motivated to cover up incidents of sexual and physical abuse.
We work to hold these organisations to account and get justice for abuse victims and survivors.
Many religious organisations enjoy a close relationship with the establishment and tend to see themselves as above the law. This can increase the risk of abuse, prevent perpetrators from facing justice, and impede efforts to support and compensate victims and survivors of abuse.
Those intent on abuse are often attracted to religious institutions. Such organisations give access to, and sometimes extreme control over, numerous children and vulnerable adults.
When abuse does occur, religious organisations often act to protect the reputation of the institution above the rights of the victim. They may pressure the victim to stay silent and move the perpetrator to somewhere unaware of their reputation.
Many religious institutions also have influence and connections that enable them to evade justice and scrutiny, often for decades.
All forms of abuse, be they sexual, physical or psychological, can cause serious harm. Victims of abuse in religious settings have suffered physical and mental health problems, including addiction, self-harm and suicide.
Abuse can take place in any religious setting. That's why we work at the national and international level to hold religious organisations to account for safeguarding failings, and to ensure victims and survivors can get justice.
Take action!
1. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
2. Write to your MP
Ask your MP to support our work to end abuse in religion settings
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Child abuse inquiry criticises religious groups’ “egregious failings”
Posted: Thu, 2 Sep 2021 16:54
There are "egregious failings" in the way various religious organisations have handled child abuse, with a variety of cultural factors contributing to the problem, an inquiry has said.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published a report on child protection in religious organisations and settings today.
The report drew on evidence concerning 38 religious organisations in England and Wales, of varying size and character, including the Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam, Judaism and others.
It said the organisations in question had "significant or even dominant influence on the lives of millions of children".
The inquiry has previously published reports on the handling of abuse in the Anglican and Catholic churches.
Key findings
The report identified a range of factors that may impede the reporting and effective management of abuse allegations.
These included the fear that exposure would damage organisations' reputation or be seen as a betrayal of a community. Some organisations encouraged internal reporting, rather than disclosure to state bodies.
The report also said barriers included:
- Cultures of victim blaming, shame and honour
- Religious taboos around the discussion of sexuality
- Abuse of power by religious leaders
- Mistrust of police and child protection agencies
- Male-dominated leadership making it less likely that women and children would report abuse.
It added that the concept of forgiveness was "misused" in some religious settings, both to put pressure on victims not to report allegations and to justify religious leaders' failures to take appropriate action.
It also said there was "likely to be a significant under-reporting of child sexual abuse in religious organisations and settings".
Recommendations
The report made two recommendations. It said all religious organisations should have a child protection policy and supporting procedures.
It also said the government should legislate to protect children in out-of-school educational settings, and to ensure Ofsted had sufficient power to examine child protection in unregistered schools – which are often run by religious organisations. The National Secular Society has long campaigned for similar measures.
The report also said religious freedom is "a qualified right" and religious organisations "remain fully subject to general law".
"It is axiomatic that neither the freedom of religion or belief, nor the rights of parents with regard to the education of their children, can ever justify the ill-treatment of children or prevent governmental authorities from taking measures necessary to protect children from harm."
It did not make a recommendation on whether there should be mandatory reporting of child abuse. The inquiry is set to consider this in its final report.
Comment
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said the report highlighted "an all too familiar pattern of religious groups prioritising the protection of their reputation over the welfare of children".
"The significant failures outlined in this report, along with those on the Church of England and the Catholic Church, point to the need for independent oversight.
"And a mandatory reporting law is needed, to compel institutions to report safeguarding concerns to the statutory authorities – without providing an exception for religious institutions.
"Deference to religion, or fear of upsetting religious sensitivities, mustn't stand in the way of efforts to protect children from abuse and harm."
Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer who acted for victims in the inquiry and is also an NSS vice-president, said: "Today's report confirms that some religious groups have catastrophically failed to protect children in their care and that many have patchy or non-existent safeguarding policies and support for victims and survivors of abuse. This is simply unacceptable.
"It is clear from the report that too many religious organisations continue to prioritise the protection, reputation and authority of religious leaders above the rights of children.
"In the light of today's report, the arguments for mandatory reporting and independent oversight of religious bodies are overwhelming."
Criticism of inquiry
In a blog for the NSS website last week, former Jehovah's Witnesses elder Lloyd Evans raised concerns that the inquiry had failed to gather the evidence needed to root out abuse within the Witnesses.
Today he described the report as "wishy washy".
During the inquiry's hearings, evidence highlighted serious failings in a variety of religious groups' handling of abuse.
Image: ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com.
Prosecutor Nazir Afzal to address ‘blind spots’ in NSS lecture
Posted: Thu, 1 Jul 2021 09:09
The National Secular Society is delighted to announce that the distinguished prosecutor Nazir Afzal will deliver its annual Bradlaugh Lecture for 2021, in Manchester in September.
Afzal is the former chief prosecutor for the north west of England and was recently appointed as the head of the Catholic Church's safeguarding body in England and Wales.
His high-profile cases have included the prosecution of the relatives responsible for an 'honour killing' in 2005, and prosecutions in the case of the Rochdale sex trafficking gang.
His lecture, entitled 'Blind spots', will explore how turning a blind eye has led to criminality and allowed harmful cultural practices to continue with impunity.
The NSS plans to hold the lecture at Manchester Art Gallery, on Saturday 4 September at 2pm. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A and a drinks reception.
The Bradlaugh Lecture is an annual event which gives a distinguished speaker an opportunity to explore a topic of interest to secularists in depth.
During his lecture Afzal will address a range of topics relevant to his life and work.
These include his efforts to uphold the rights of women and girls by combatting forced marriage, female genital mutilation, honour-based violence and abuse.
He will explore how, and why, a reluctance to acknowledge harmful practices in some communities leads to injustice and a breakdown in social cohesion.
And he will consider how we promote tolerance, pluralism and understanding in an increasingly diverse society.
NSS comment
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "We're delighted that Nazir Afzal has agreed to deliver our Bradlaugh Lecture – it promises to be a fascinating event.
"We look forward to hearing him draw on his long and varied experience to provide an insight into a range of significant issues. His lecture will be of interest to anyone concerned with social cohesion, human rights and the equitable and appropriate application of justice."
Tickets for the lecture are £15 – with NSS members entitled to a £10 discount.
