Fiona Woolf’s Replacement Should be Approved by Survivors of Child Sex Abuse

As someone with professional experience of working with survivors of child sex abuse, I was relieved by Fiona Woolf’s resignation as chair of the historical child sex abuse inquiry. That she was considered an appropriate candidate in the first place is staggering, particularly in light of baroness Butler-Sloss’ resignation just three months earlier due to her links to the establishment.

In the end, the survivors’ objections were heard. If they don’t trust, absolutely, in the integrity of the process, starting with the appointment of the chair, they will (rightly) boycott it and the whole charade will unravel. If their views are treated with contempt at this stage, why should they put themselves through the nightmare of reliving historical sexual traumas?

Alison Millar, the solicitor representing around 50 survivors, wants the inquiry to be given statutory powers, such as the ability to compel the production of documents and the attendance of witnesses. She also wants those who give false evidence to face criminal charges. Perhaps the involvement of the Home Affairs Select Committee, chaired by Keith Vaz (who has had flashes of brilliance in the past), will advance the survivors’ bid to secure some teeth for the inquiry, and focus the terms of reference to ensure it is conducted in a timely and transparent, manner.