Industry lead bodies should be prepared to consider expanding vocational training courses accordingly, and consult each other on best practice. Child exploitation needs to be understood by the public but in explaining the issues, especially the physical or sexual abuse of children, care must be taken not to betray confidences from children or parents who are in need of protection. There should be a policy of openness in local authorities and other social service agencies when allegations of abuse of children in care are made, providing the children concerned cannot be identified. More detailed consideration needs to be given to calls for the media to be granted greater access to court procedures involving children. The Panel were not fully convinced by the evidence they heard on the day that this would help to increase public understanding of child abuse, but acknowledge that there are serious issues of accountability and transparency that merit further investigation.
Child exploitation is an international problem.
Any efforts to address child exploitation and the media in Britain should take into account international initiatives, particularly those flowing from the Declaration and Agenda for Action of the World Congress Against Commercial Exploitation of Children, to which the UK is a signatory. There should be continued monitoring and investigation of the issues raised by the Forum.