On Wednesday 25th February, Scotland’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will once again consider Petition PE1979. For many people, this may sound like just another parliament discussion but for whistleblowers, survivors, and families across Scotland, it represents something much bigger.

At its core, this petition is about protecting children, listening to those who speak up, and making sure serious safeguarding concerns are handled properly and independently.

The reality behind the petition

For more than three years, whistleblowers and survivors from across Scotland have been coming forward. They’ve raised concerns about how child abuse and safeguarding issues have been handled within education and children’s services. Many did exactly what we hope people will do they spoke up when something didn’t feel right.

But instead of being supported, many say they faced serious consequences. Some describe impacts on their mental and physical health. Others say their careers suffered. Many have spoken about feeling ignored, isolated, or even punished for raising concerns that were meant to protect children.

These stories are not coming from one area or one service. They span the length of education and children’s services across Scotland. Some cases relate to extremely serious allegations, including those connected to organised child exploitation. Across different cases, similar patterns keep appearing concerns not properly investigated, a lack of independent scrutiny, and systems that appear to be reviewing themselves rather than being held accountable externally.

This is what led to the creation of Petition PE1979.

What the petition is asking for

The petition calls on the Scottish Government to take two main actions.

1. Launch an independent national inquiry
This inquiry would look into how public bodies,  including local authorities and the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS),  have allegedly handled both past and current child abuse, safeguarding, and children’s rights concerns.

Many people believe that only a fully independent inquiry can properly examine what has happened, identify where systems have failed, and make meaningful recommendations for change. Existing processes can be complex, slow, and limited in their powers. An independent inquiry would have the authority and transparency needed to build trust and deliver answers.

2. Create a National Whistleblowing Officer for Education and Children’s Services
The petition also calls for a dedicated, independent whistleblowing role specifically for education and children’s services. This would give professionals, families, and survivors a safe place to raise concerns outside of the organisations involved.

Right now, many whistleblowers feel they have nowhere truly independent to turn. A national officer would provide an external route where concerns could be raised without fear of cover-ups, conflicts of interest, or organisations effectively “marking their own homework.” The goal is simple: make it safer to speak up, and ensure concerns are properly examined.

Why the petition was launched

The petitioners, including Neil McLennan, Christine Scott, Alison Dickie, and Bill Cook believe there are serious gaps in current systems. While the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has done important work, it mainly focuses on children in residential care. Many of the cases being raised by whistleblowers and survivors fall outside that scope.

PE1979 aims to ensure attention is given to:

• Abuse and safeguarding failures in mainstream schools and other regulated children’s activities
• Allegations involving grooming gangs and organised exploitation not covered by current inquiries
• Situations where staff accused of wrongdoing were allegedly moved roles rather than fully investigated

Petitioners and supporters believe these gaps have left many serious concerns unresolved and many voices unheard.

Where things stand now

As of early 2026, the petition continues to gather cross-party support and public attention.

The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee has heard evidence from a number of survivor-whistleblowers, including formal witness statements about experiences within Scotland’s care and education systems. These testimonies have highlighted the human impact behind the policy discussions.

The committee is now considering whether PE1979 should become a “legacy petition.” This means it would carry forward into the next parliamentary session and remain a priority issue, allowing work to continue without delay.

The Scottish Government has previously pointed to improvements in child protection guidance and has not committed to launching a new inquiry. However, the Petitions Committee has continued to press for stronger, more independent oversight and for the voices of whistleblowers and survivors to be properly heard.

Why this matters to all of us

This isn’t just about policy or politics. It’s about trust, accountability, and the safety of children.

When people raise concerns about child protection, they should be listened to, not ignored or sidelined. When systems fail, there should be clear, independent ways to investigate and learn from those failures. And when survivors and whistleblowers come forward, they should feel supported rather than alone.

PE1979 represents an opportunity to strengthen how Scotland handles safeguarding concerns. It aims to address power imbalances, reduce conflicts of interest, and ensure that protecting children always comes first.

On 25th February, the committee will decide whether this petition and the serious safeguarding issues behind it will move forward as a legacy priority. There is hope that cross-party support will continue and that the Scottish Government will add its backing.

Because at the heart of all of this is a simple principle. Protecting children and listening to those who speak up for them should never be optional. It should be the standard we all expect.

About Me

Holly Alex (born Holly Hamilton). I am a Scottish Author and Survivor-Advocate who speaks out about failures in the care system and the need for stronger child protection and independent oversight. After waiving my anonymity in 2022, I began sharing my experiences publicly to help drive change and ensure the voices of survivors are heard.

My memoir, I Thought You Cared, published in Feb 2026, details my experiences in care and highlights the systemic failures that allowed abuse and exploitation to occur. I have also called for a full public inquiry into the targeting of children in care by grooming gangs in Edinburgh and I continue to campaign for accountability, transparency, and safer systems for vulnerable children across Scotland.

Learn more:
Here – 1 Here – 2
https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1979