The Scottish Human Rights Commission and CELCIS (Centre of Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland, University of Strathclyde) have hosted an InterAction event in Glasgow.

The aim of the InterAction, the first facilitated negotiation within a human rights framework in Scotland, was to bring people and organisations to the same table at the same time to develop a plan to deliver justice for victims/survivors of historic abuse.

The InterAction took place in a spirit of mutual respect and constructive engagement. All sides recognised that, whilst some steps have been taken to address historic abuse, victims/survivors have waited many decades for acknowledgement and accountability for the trauma they suffered as children. Many participants underlined the severe and enduring impact this has had on them, as well as on their family and friends.

This first meeting of the InterAction process agreed a platform for further negotiations in areas related to:

• empowerment of victims/survivors to access justice, including support services,
• experience sharing between institutions and public bodies on steps which they can take to respond through remedies such as apologies and compensation,
• acknowledgement of harm such as through effective apologies, and
• accountability of all of those who held responsibilities for the care of children and learning lessons for current and future child care practice.

Specific areas that will be further discussed include the possibility of establishing a national reparations fund, possible changes to the civil law time bar, and the value of introducing an “Apology Law” which would enable all institutions to make full and effective apologies.

Source: Scottish Human Rights Commission