THERE is 'little evidence' that children in Northern Ireland are more protected now than they were since an inquiry into child sexual exploitation was published two years ago, according to the children’s commissioner.
Koulla Yiasouma made the remarks in a statement released to coincide with the European Day on the Protection of Children yesterday.
In 2014, the Marshall Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) found that the problem was a 'significant and growing threat' to young people in Northern Ireland.
The report also made a series of recommendations to Stormont on how to tackle the issue across the areas of health and social care, education, policing and justice.
However, Ms Yiasouma said in the last two years she has see “no concrete evidence” from official government reports that CSE was being addressed effectively.
"We need to see clear evidence that government action is leading to real change in how well we are protecting young people, supporting those who work with them, and disrupting and pursuing those who seek to abuse and exploit them," she said.
"There are too many examples of actions being marked as complete, and Government saying it has addressed CSE by writing guidance, agreeing principles, planning reviews and having meetings.
"There is not enough evidence to show if this is making a difference, with better trained and supported staff on the ground and young people who feel cared for and safe."
The commissioner concluded her remarks by calling on the government to publish clear evidence of the real-life impact its actions were having on vulnerable children and young people.
