ACTION ALERT: Write to your MP to Help Protect Victims of Sexual Exploitation
Monday January 13 2025
Last month the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and so-called grooming gangs once again dominated national headlines, sparking growing concern.
Let’s be clear: these crimes are heinous and perpetrators must face the full force of the law, while innocent victims should be given justice and support they need.
Right-wing politicians and far-right figures have called for a new national inquiry, but experts warn that this would only delay action. What is needed now are concrete steps to bring offenders to justice, support victims and protect children from further abuse.
In 2022, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, also known as the Jay Inquiry, made 20 policy recommendations to address CSE and safeguard children. However, very few of these recommendations have been fully implemented, and others won’t be addressed until after Easter.
Instead of acknowledging their failure to implement crucial legislation, some members of the Conservative Party, right-wing politicians and the far-right have used the issue to demonise Muslims, framing CSE as a crime primarily committed by men of South Asian or Muslim backgrounds, despite evidence to the contrary.
As MEND’s new report demonstrates, this has had the effect of dividing communities and taking the focus away from the victims of sex crimes.
Victims of CSE have suffered long enough and deserve justice and support without further delay.
MEND encourages you to write to your MP, urging them to push the government to implement all 20 recommendations of the Jay Inquiry as swiftly as possible to ensure meaningful action and justice for victims.
ACT NOW by following this step-by-step guide on how to write to your MP:
Step 1: Scroll below to the box for inputting your postcode
Step 2: Enter your postcode and click “find”
Step 3: Click the ‘send a message’ option found next to your local MP’s photograph
Step 4: Copy and paste the body of the template email in to your email. (IMPORTANT: EDIT THE EMAIL INTO YOUR OWN WORDS, MPS EMAIL SYSTEMS TEND TO DELETE IDENTICAL COPIES)
Step 5: Fill in the remaining information in the ‘About You’ section
Step 6: Hit “Preview and send”
“Dear [Enter MP’s name]
As you will be aware, there has been intensified discussion in Parliament and the media around the topic of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and grooming gangs.
You will also no doubt be aware that, unfortunately, some right-wing politicians, including certain members of the Conservative Party, Nigel Farage and others, along with the far-right have used the issue to demonise British Muslim communities by framing CSE as a crime committed almost exclusively by South Asian/Muslim men, despite the government’s own data showing this is not the case.
I’m sure you would agree that our number one priority must be on the victims of these egregious crimes, ensuring they receive the support and justice they deserve and implementing legislation that can help to prevent further crimes of this nature. A public inquiry was carried out and published in 2022 called The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, otherwise known as The Jay Inquiry, which recommended 20 policies the government could implement to this end. However, most of its recommendations have not been carried out and further recommendations will not be implemented until Easter this year.
Indeed, it would appear that some are more interested in spreading division and maligning entire communities, rather than ensuring victims get the justice they deserve.
I am therefore writing to ask you that when in Parliament, you call upon and lobby the government to initiate the process, as soon as possible, of implementing The Jay Inquiry’s 20 recommendations in full as swiftly as possible.
Yours sincerely,
[Enter your name]”
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