thanks, i will ensure that once roshni has carried out the pilot project, the results are published for all to see and assess.

I would say overall that they are, though much of the abuse took place in Catholic instituations where Catholics were separate from the rest of society.

I merely asked the question relating to integration with the intention of starting a debate. I did not offer an opinion. In any case no-one suggested that lack of integration causes abuse, merely that it may contribute to a reluctance to use mainstream services and a culture of secrecy.

‘If 20% of all women have been abused, it would seem that denial of this problem is widespread and endemic amongst white people too, where presumably issues of integration are not involved.’

Again no-one suggested that lack of integration cause abuse. Why so defensive? I also made clear above that within each each ethnic group surveyed by Roshni there was in fact a high awareness of abuse. The worrying figure was those surveyed who said that they would not report abuse if they became aware of it. Try re-reading the post.

Ali,
Best of luck with the project and I hope you’ll keep us up to date.

lack of integration is just yet another factor in the history of abuse. roshni however is concentrating on the issue of children as its remit.

all very valid comments. any circumstance, whereby adult/s are working with young children, there should be the relevant procedures in place. It may be helpful to maintain contact as roshni rolls out with its programs, my email is ali@roshni.org.uk.

hi, I will look at the link, thanks. the program will include all places of worship including Gurdwaras

ali khan

i am chair of roshni, it would be helpful if we could maintain contact. please email me if that would be aceptable to you at ali@roshni.org.uk

in terms of working with larger established agencies, roshni would be happy to do so, however based on my limited dealings with some of the agencies. it seems politics play a part in charity work!

It refers to child sexual abuse.

How can we reduce it?

Trying to limit the opportunities for offenders (through policies etc), informing women/children that they have the right not to be abused and making sure people in positions of power defend that right (both theoretically and practically) is probably the best we can do.

When beyond the law it’s so difficult to influence the behaviour of individuals. Society relys on a trickle down effect. Usually through campaigning the “powers that be” decide something is bad but it takes alot of work through religions, the police and media etc for that to filter down to your average person – look at domestic violence and drink driving 30 years ago they were accepted.

Maybe we should have anti rape campaigns on tv?! At least that might normalise it, remove some of the “taboo” power.

I digress – certainly any group religious or not, BME or not, should as a matter of course be working towards limiting the opportunities.
It’s a valid point that you raise though and sexual assault is a huge problem in the uk.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2411379.ece

If 20% of all women have been abused, it would seem that denial of this problem is widespread and endemic amongst white people too, where presumably issues of integration are not involved.

To what extent is lack of integration, if any contributing to this state of affairs?

To what extent was ‘lack of integration’ a contributing factor to thousands of white Catholic children in Scotland and elsewhere being sexually abused over generations and it all being hushed up for whatever reason? Are white Catholics not integrated in Scotland and other places?

I’m a trustee of a community association – We used to rent a room to “urdu classes” for children and had a lot of issues around child protection. Following an incident they moved to one of the local mosques.

Much as I loathe offsted alot of classes probably should be registered as parents are not in the building? Correct me if I’m wrong there.

Although i don’t think thats the solution.

Again I don’t think that this is a muslim problem – just that some religions that are more established in the UK have learnt(over a long time) to be more accountable and to work within legal frameworks. I think it’s really difficult to expect any type of group to just suddenly conform with a new set of rules and a new way of doing things.

It’s certainly not going to change unless we discuss it and then put our money where our mouth is.

I used to work for a Manchester based BME children and young peoples charity. The Bibini Centre for Young People offered lots of different services from a residential care home to supporting newly arrived asylum seeking families.

As one of 3 or 4 white people employed by them (minimal face to face contact) – it certainly opened my eyes to
the need for such organisations
the amount of organisational racism about.

Sofia,
That is terrible. I have a feeling that like the Catholic Church before them many Muslims are in for a shock when more people start coming forward.

Sunny,
I’d forgotten about that. Still a report last year, a charity this year. Perhaps this issue is going to get the profile it deserves. Knowing how long organisations take to change I think it’s too early to say whether or not Dr Siddiqui’s report has had any impact. As far as I know Roshni intend to focus on Hindu, Muslim and Sikh organisation and places of worship initially so the Gurdwaras should receive some attention.

The thing is, last year Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui published a report on this very issue:
http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/379

It was very good but unfortunately doesn’t seem to have been taken up by anyone. This guy’s plan to try and enforce police checks on people is a good one. The same should apply to Gurudwaras too.

However, I do not know how effective this charity will be and I would think it is the job of the government and the police to ensure that that everyone working with children is subject to Disclosure checks.

If it is the case that ‘Roshni’ feels that the police, social services and the government are not doing their jobs the it should say so, and seek to work alongside them rather then to replace them.