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<p>My hon. Friend, the former Minister for Children and Families, Vicky Ford, met
with senior representatives of the national working group on child abuse linked to
faith in February 2021. The department has not provided any funding to the national
working group.</p><p>Faith-based abuse, or 'child abuse linked to faith or belief'
relates to situations in which a child is abused (physically, emotionally, sexually
or by neglect) because of a belief that the child is possessed by evil spirits. Any
form of child abuse is abhorrent and cannot be justified. The government is determined
to protect children from this abuse, as with any other form of abuse. Where there
are concerns that any child is at risk of, or has suffered significant harm, these
should be reported to the police or to the local authority children’s social care
who should take action. This is outlined in the ‘Working together to safeguard children’
statutory guidance<em>.</em></p><p>The government’s ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’
strategy, published on 2 February 2023, and backed by £200 million investment, set
out plans to reform children’s social care, including a commitment to deliver a decisive,
multi-agency child protection system for all children.</p>
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