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
Culture isn’t an excuse for inaction, says Nazir Afzal in NSS lecture
Posted: Mon, 6 Sep 2021 16:43
Culture shouldn't be an excuse for inaction on issues such as forced marriage, honour-based violence and child sexual abuse, the former prosecutor Nazir Afzal has said in a National Secular Society lecture.
Afzal, who worked as chief crown prosecutor for the north-west of England, reflected on his distinguished career as he delivered the NSS's 2021 Bradlaugh Lecture at Manchester Art Gallery on Saturday.
He said society should be prepared to have "difficult conversations" and spoke of the importance of standing up for the rights of those who often go unheard.
Grooming cases and honour killing
He reflected on his role in the prosecution of 'grooming gangs' in Rochdale and the killers of Banaz Mahmod, a young British-Iraqi who was murdered in an honour killing in 2006.
He said the grooming cases had been dismissed before he took them on because vulnerable girls hadn't been listened to, and there was an assumption that no jury would believe the victim.
He said people felt more confident coming forward after Rochdale, and noted that the revelations about Jimmy Savile's abuse followed that case.
He also described the Mahmod case as "pivotal", as it led to national police guidelines for tackling honour-based abuse.
"Community leaders who lead nobody"
Afzal said the authorities should listen to the voices of those affected by the issues he'd confronted, along with NGOs and experts who worked on them.
In contrast he sounded a sceptical note over those in positions of authority who treat community leaders as representative of broader communities.
He said he'd "wasted plenty of time" talking to "community leaders who lead nobody".
He also said it was important to marginalise extremist voices within Muslim communities, which he said were often unduly amplified in public conversation, and not representative of opinion among Muslims.
He also said Muslims face "daily" abuse, but that shouldn't be a reason to avoid tackling genuine problems.
Threats from Islamists and white far right
He spoke of his work in response to the row over the publication of Muhammad cartoons in 2006. He brought prosecutions against those who publicly demanded beheadings for those who insult Islam, on the grounds of inciting murder. In response he was put on an al-Qa'eda 'death list'.
He also spoke of facing racism, particularly when he grew up in Birmingham, and of far right efforts to delegitimise his work, as he had "damaged their narrative" by bringing the grooming cases. He faced threats, was the target of 'fake news', and had thugs outside his home.
He also gave thoughts on subjects including home schooling, relationships and sex education, and safeguarding in the Catholic Church. He recently began chairing the church's safeguarding body for England and Wales.
NSS comment
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said it had been "an absolute privilege" to host the lecture.
"Nazir Afzal provided a fascinating insight into a broad range of hugely important subjects. He showed the importance of confronting tough issues and providing a voice for those who often go unnoticed.
"There was plenty to learn for anyone with an interest in human rights and social cohesion, and we're very grateful to Nazir for delivering this lecture."
We'll have a video of the lecture available in due course.
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.
