Independent redress
Independent redress is vital. Survivors deserve justice free from the influence of the institutions that harmed them — with transparent, trauma-informed processes led by an autonomous statutory body
Why independent redress matters
Independent redress is essential to ensure that survivors are not retraumatised by processes controlled by the very institutions that harmed them.
True accountability requires separation from those with vested interests, with decisions made by an autonomous statutory body operating transparently and free from political or institutional influence. An independent redress authority would guarantee fairness, consistency, and survivor confidence by applying trauma-informed principles, publishing outcomes, and maintaining oversight through survivor representation.
Mandatory funding from implicated perpetrators or institutions would ensure that taxpayers aren’t left paying for the crimes of powerful individuals. Independence is not a technical feature but a moral foundation — it restores trust, prevents conflicts of interest, and ensures that redress serves justice rather than reputation management.
NOA Action
Call for Evidence: Government Compensation Schemes
This submission by No One Above (NOA) responds to the Public Accounts Committee’s call for evidence on government compensation schemes. It calls for a statutory redress framework covering both public and private institutions to ensure fair, trauma-informed, and independent redress for survivors of systemic abuse. Drawing on international precedents and the lessons of the Horizon scandal, NOA argues that voluntary or fragmented schemes entrench inequality and delay justice. A unified statutory model, survivor-designed and perpetrator-funded where possible, would ensure accountability, reduce public costs, and restore confidence in institutional justice.
NOA's submission was kindly supported by Dr Natasha Mulvilhill.
