It can takes years, even decades, to come to terms with sexual abuse experienced in childhood and for victims to feel ready to face their abusers and demand justice. Strict limits on how quickly a complaint must be made can prevent children from complaining when they are able.

There are sound reasons for limitation periods in some situations. It can be more difficult to find strong reliable evidence years after an event: witnesses’ memories fade, documentary evidence may not be available or may no longer exist and the evidence that does exist may be less reliable for its age. For contract disputes or minor criminal offences, these practical matters may justify time limits, but where these limits systematically deny justice to victims of sexual abuse, the wrong balance has been struck.

People accused of sexual abuse are entitled to the most rigorous protections of the criminal justice system, but not to impunity. They have the right to challenge unreliable evidence, but not to avoid being accused at all. Time limits should never prevent children from seeking justice for sexual abuse.

Further information:

CRIN’s global research on access to justice for children, including on limitation periods