Institutional child abuse inquiry

We have welcomed the announcement of an inquiry into institutional child abuse in Northern Ireland and we are working to ensure that it is able to deliver justice for victims and survivors. Read more

We are campaigning for justice for the victims of child abuse in institutions in Northern Ireland, whether State-run or church-operated. For decades, many hundreds of children suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse in children's homes and other institutions to which their care had been entrusted.

For two years we have campaigned with victims to ensure that the relevant government authorities comply with their international obligations to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of such abuse and have focused on the need for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver an independent, impartial and effective inquiry.

The Northern Ireland Executive has now published Terms of Reference and draft legislation for the inquiry. We have responded to these to help ensure that the inquiry meets international human rights standards and the needs of victims. This is our July 2012 submission to the Committee of the First and deputy First Minister, which is currently scrutinising the Bill.

Meanwhile we support calls by victims of clerical child abuse in Northern Ireland for the authorities to ensure that independent and thorough investigations are carried out into allegations of abuse, as well as the response of both church and State authorities to such abuse.

Clerical child abuse, outside the setting of a residential institution, will not be covered by the planned inquiry into institutional child abuse. Read more

Inquiry submission

Read our submission to the Committee of the First and deputy First Minister, which is currently scrutinising the Bill. Download the submission (pdf)

Read our full submission to the Interdepartmental Taskforce on Historical Institutional Abuse established by the Northern Ireland Executive. Download the submission (pdf)

You can also read our original briefing on institutional child abuse that called for the inquiry to be established. Download the briefing (pdf)

Conference: Time for Justice

In October 2010, Amnesty held a conference in Belfast which brought together key actors - victims and survivors, campaigners, commissioners and counsellors - from the inquiry and redress processes in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland to share their experiences so that lessons may be learned in Northern Ireland. Download the conference report (pdf)