Child sexual abuse victims will no longer be bound by a three-year limit on compensation claims under “long overdue” reforms, the government has said.
Apologies will also be made easier to achieve, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said. Both reforms are expected to be part of bills due to be brought before parliament in the next year.
They are part of the 20 recommendations from the 2022 final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), led by Professor Alexis Jay.
Last month the government confirmed professionals who work with children will face criminal sanctions if they fail to report claims of sexual abuse.
The government said the latest reforms will ensure victims are prioritised.
The changes to the Law of Apologies and Limitation Law will see the three-year time limit for victims to bring personal injury claims removed, and the burden of proof moved from victims to defendants.
Employers will also be encouraged to apologise to people wronged by their employees.
Victims will be likelier to receive apologies from schools, care facilities, or hospitals for abuse carried out by someone who worked at such institutions, the MoJ said.
The government said the apologies legislation would not apply to public inquiries or defamation cases and will not be retrospective.
The NSPCC welcomed the announcement but said it is “vital” the other recommendations are followed up on, including a guarantee of specialist therapeutic support for child victims of sexual abuse.
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Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Child sexual abuse causes lifelong trauma and these important changes, recommended by Professor Jay, are long overdue.
“These measures help survivors pursue their path to justice. They build on the government’s mission of halving violence against women and girls and support our Plan for Change.”
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Justice minister Sarah Sackman said: “The courts must work for the public they serve, and we recognise that victims and survivors need time to process their trauma.
“By changing the law, it will now be possible for victims to come forward and seek justice when they feel ready to do so.”
