THE CHAIR of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), Professor Alexis Jay, visited Cardiff on Wednesday (Oct 26) to attend an event at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium to mark the opening of the Inquiry’s Welsh office and the start of the Inquiry’s Truth Project in Wales.
The Chair was accompanied by the Inquiry Panel members, Dru Sharpling, Ivor Frank and members of the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel.
Over 100 individuals and organisations accepted invitations to attend the launch, including officials from the Wales Government, local authorities, NHS Wales, charities, Welsh national safeguarding boards and religious institutions.
IICSA Chair Professor Alexis Jay said: “I am delighted be in Cardiff to meet with representatives from across Wales to discuss the work of the Inquiry. In particular, we want to highlight how victims and survivors can share their experiences with us as part of the Truth Project. I am grateful for the time taken by everyone to meet with me and other members of the Inquiry and I want to emphasise that we are committed to delivering a strong presence here in Wales.”
The Truth Project has been taking evidence from victims and survivors for seven months, allowing victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to talk about their experiences with the Inquiry. Those who wish to take part can attend a private session at one of the IICSA offices in England or Wales.
The Wales office is now able to makes appointments for victims and survivors to give testimony at the Truth Project. It has dedicated Welsh-speaking staff who will ensure Welsh speakers receive a seamless service in their own language when they engage with the Inquiry.
Inquiry Panel member Dru Sharpling added: “Our team in Wales will provide as much support and guidance as possible and we will be working alongside those organisations who are already doing so much to help the victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.”
Chris Tuck, from the Victims and Survivors’ Consultative Panel, said: “We acknowledge the courage that it takes to share an experience of child sexual abuse but each experience shared will make an important contribution to the work of the Inquiry. Victims and survivors can share their experiences with the Inquiry in a safe and secure environment during a private session. Specialist support will be available to each person who engages with the Truth Project. They can be accompanied by a family member, friend or other support person of their choice.”
The Wales office will help ensure that the Inquiry reach victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in some of the most remote and and hard to reach communities, where the issue of child sexual abuse is often ignored or unacknowledged.
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