Time bar lifted for survivors of child abuse
The Scottish Government has announced that a long-standing barrier to survivors of childhood abuse being able to take civil legal action, has been abolished.
Previous legislation has meant that survivors of abuse taking place after 1964, would only have a three-year period to pursue damages.
The introduction of the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Act 2017 removes the ‘time-bar’ of three years, and helps survivors of abuse to seek justice.
Speaking in reaction to this, Joanne McMeeking, Head of Improving Care Experiences at CELCIS, commented:
“The abolishment of the time bar is the result of many years of successful campaigning by survivors. It is a welcome addition to the package of effective reparation as outlined in the Action Plan on Justice for victims of Historic Abuse of Children in Care.”