Fiona
Bruce MP delivers petition to Downing
Street urging government to strengthen laws against sex abusers
Fiona Bruce MP, alongside Terry Tennens, Chief Executive for International
Justice Mission (IJM) UK, recently delivered over 7,000 signatures from
supporters who wish to see the UK government strengthen laws against sex
abusers, to ensure that British nationals who sexually abuse others abroad, are
held accountable here in the UK.
Fiona Bruce said “Child sex tourists and traffickers travel to countries to take
advantage of the fact that the domestic laws are not being strictly enforced.
When it is not possible to bring justice to such victims in the country where
the abuse took place, it is the UK's responsibility to ensure that British
nationals are brought to justice and other potential victims are protected from
harm.”
The UK already has sophisticated mechanisms in place to protect children
from abuse by British nationals, specifically Section 72 of the Sexual Offences
Act 2003 and the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC). The recent
conviction of Simon Harris under Section 72 is one example of the British law
at work. But research by the International Justice Mission indicates that
Section 72 has rarely been applied in court. And further problems arise because
of the lack of effective data collection and sharing about known offenders in
the UK or with international authorities.
