Lord Laming Safeguarding Progress Review
The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report | Press Release

“Victoria’s death was a tragedy which I will never forget and from which I hope and believe lessons have been learned. As I said in my report last year, the Government has put in place robust policy, legislation and guidance and so firm foundations are in place. But we need to put what’s on the page into effective, consistent practice and that is why I called for a step change. In response the Government has put in place, and is driving forward, a comprehensive programme of action which I hope will make a lasting difference. We cannot ask agencies to do the impossible where a violent act or unforeseen act puts a child in danger. But where children at risk are known, agencies must work together in a co-ordinated way to protect them. There is good practice around the country but we all need to work with utter determination to make good practice standard practice everywhere.”
Lord Laming, Victoria Climbié Memorial Lecture, February 2010.  

In this country the journey from Victoria Climbié to the full realisation everywhere of the spirit of ‘Every Child Matters’ represents a formidable challenge. It must be underpinned by a commitment to seeking a good outcome for each child and by being altogether more ambitious for each child in all we do.

The years of childhood pass all too quickly. They are the foundation on which our future life is built. Let us strive to make childhood happy, safe and fulfilling for every child. It is against that hope that the memory of Victoria must live on.
Lord Laming, Victoria Climbié Memorial Lecture, February 2007