Child abuse expert pulls out of grooming inquiry over political ‘point scoring’ – BBC

Report on the National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Crisis in Upholding Justice and Gender Equality

A national inquiry in England and Wales, established to address group-based child sexual exploitation, is facing significant challenges that threaten its capacity to deliver on key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The recent resignation of four members from its victim liaison panel has highlighted critical issues concerning institutional transparency and the commitment to protecting vulnerable populations. This report analyses the inquiry’s objectives, the recent controversy, and the implications for achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Inquiry Mandate and its Connection to Global Goals

Objective: Targeting Child Exploitation (SDG 16.2)

The Independent Commission on Grooming Gangs was launched in June by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to address systemic failures in protecting children. Its core mission aligns directly with SDG Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

• The inquiry is empowered to conduct targeted local investigations and compel witness testimony.
• It is managed by the independent child exploitation charity NWG Network, aiming for a process independent of direct government control to foster trust and accountability.
• The initiative follows a review by Dame Louise Casey, which recommended a national inquiry after a previous report by Professor Alexis Jay saw only two of its 20 recommendations implemented, indicating a historical deficit in institutional effectiveness.

Procedural Failures and Setbacks to SDG Targets

Erosion of Trust in Institutional Processes (SDG 16.6)

The resignation of four abuse survivors from the inquiry’s advisory panel signals a critical failure in establishing the effective, accountable, and transparent institutions mandated by SDG Target 16.6. The resignations were prompted by a series of concerns that undermine the inquiry’s legitimacy.

1. Scope and Focus: Panel members raised alarms over suggestions the inquiry’s scope could be broadened from a specific focus on “grooming gangs” to a more general “group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA)”. This potential dilution is seen as a betrayal of the inquiry’s original purpose.
2. Lack of Transparency: The women cited tight controls on their communications and a feeling that the process was becoming “less about the truth and more about a cover-up.”
3. Leadership Concerns: Objections were raised against two proposed candidates to chair the inquiry due to their professional backgrounds in social work and policing—institutions whose past failures are central to the investigation. Both candidates have since withdrawn.

Impact on Gender Equality (SDG 5.2)

The controversy directly impacts progress towards SDG Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. The victims of the grooming gangs are predominantly young girls, making this a profound issue of gender-based violence. The exclusion and perceived manipulation of female survivors’ voices on the panel compromises the inquiry’s ability to deliver gender-sensitive justice.

Government Response and Future Outlook

Commitment to Restoring the Inquiry’s Integrity

Government officials, including Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, have denied allegations of a cover-up and asserted that the inquiry’s scope has not been diluted. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has provided assurances that the inquiry will proceed without being “watered down” and will examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders.

Next Steps for Aligning with SDG Principles

To regain credibility and effectively contribute to the SDGs, the inquiry must take immediate steps:

• Appoint a Credible Chair: The selection of a chair must be a transparent process supported by the survivor community.
• Clarify the Scope: The government must formally reaffirm the inquiry’s specific focus on grooming gangs to address the concerns of victims.
• Empower Survivor Voices: The process must be restructured to ensure that the experiences and recommendations of survivors are central to the inquiry, in line with the principles of inclusive justice under SDG 16.

The involvement of Dame Louise Casey to support the inquiry’s work is a positive step, but its ultimate success hinges on rebuilding trust with the very victims it was created to serve. The outcome will be a critical measure of the UK’s commitment to upholding justice, protecting children, and advancing gender equality.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article directly addresses gender-based violence by focusing on the “group-based child sexual exploitation of girls by grooming gangs” and mentioning that victims in high-profile cases were “predominantly young white girls.” This highlights the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The entire article revolves around the establishment and functioning of a national inquiry, which is an institution of justice. It discusses the inquiry’s legal powers, the role of the police, the government’s handling of the process, and the need for accountability and transparency. The core issue is ending abuse and exploitation of children, which is central to this goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

  The inquiry’s specific focus on “grooming gangs” and “child sexual exploitation of girls” directly aligns with this target’s aim to eradicate sexual exploitation and violence against females.

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

  This is the most explicit target related to the article. The inquiry was commissioned to evaluate “the scale, nature and drivers of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA),” which is a direct effort to address and ultimately end violence and exploitation against children.

• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

  The article highlights significant challenges to institutional effectiveness and accountability. The fact that a previous inquiry’s report from 2022 has seen only “two of her 20 recommendations have been implemented” points to a lack of accountability. Furthermore, the resignations from the panel due to concerns about a “cover-up” and “tight controls on what they could say” underscore the need for more transparent and accountable processes.

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

  The government’s decision to give a “panel of abuse survivors… a central role in the inquiry” is a clear attempt to create a participatory and inclusive process. However, the resignation of four members who felt their concerns were not being heard demonstrates a failure in making this decision-making process genuinely responsive and representative of the victims’ needs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Proportion of recommendations from official inquiries that are implemented by the government.

  The article provides a direct, measurable indicator of institutional accountability by stating that a previous seven-year inquiry led by Professor Jay resulted in 20 recommendations, but “so far only two… have been implemented.” This metric can be used to track the government’s commitment to acting on the findings of such inquiries.

• Existence and effectiveness of participatory mechanisms for victims in justice processes.

  The creation of the “panel of abuse survivors” is an indicator of an attempt to include victims in the decision-making process. The subsequent resignations and protests serve as a qualitative indicator of the mechanism’s current lack of effectiveness and responsiveness, highlighting areas for improvement.

• Number of convictions for child sexual exploitation and abuse.

  The article refers to “high-profile cases where groups of men… were convicted of sexually abusing and raping predominantly young white girls.” This implies that the number of successful prosecutions and convictions is a key indicator of justice being delivered and a measure of progress in tackling these crimes.

• Number of targeted investigations into child sexual exploitation.

  The inquiry is mandated to “co-ordinate a series of targeted local investigations.” The number and scope of these investigations would serve as a direct indicator of the inquiry’s activity and progress in examining the problem at a local level.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com