Since the 2015 hearings the organisation has replaced its 2012 elders' letter (August 2016), published a public child-protection statement (2018, revised 2020 and 2025), issued a Watchtower study article for all members (May 2019), rewritten the elders' handbook with a dedicated child-abuse chapter (2019 onwards), and adopted branch guidelines directing a report to authorities whenever a minor remains at risk; it has not changed the two-witness rule, the men-only judicial process, or shunning.
Claim ID claim-safeguarding-reforms-2016-2025Concerns September 2025Outcome
The organisation’s position or later explanation: The organisation presents these as long-standing positions clarified rather than reforms (cpt par. 2: 'long-standing and widely published Scripturally based position').
September 2025 · pp.1-2 · pars. 3-5, 11-15 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (jw.org)
“Elders comply with child abuse reporting laws. When elders learn of an allegation of child abuse, they immediately consult with the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses for legal advice on proper reporting procedure and for the protection of children. (Romans 13:1) Even in jurisdictions with no reporting requirements, the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses will instruct the elders to report the matter if the victim or another minor is in danger of abuse.”
Paragraph 5 of the organisation's current public child-protection statement. Par. 3 says elders 'do not shield any perpetrator of child abuse from the authorities'; par. 4 that anyone reporting to elders is told they are free to report to the authorities; par. 11 describes the internal investigation as 'a purely religious proceeding'; par. 12 says elders 'never require victims of child abuse to present their accusation in the presence of the alleged abuser'; par. 14 says an abuser does not qualify for privileges 'for decades, if ever'; par. 15 says the document is reviewed at least every three years.
Provenance and verification note for Jehovah's Witnesses' Scripturally Based Position on Child Protection (cpt-E 9/25), Jehovah's Witnesses' Scripturally Based Position on Child Protection
Confidence note. Opened the jw.org landing page and downloaded the official PDF (cpt_E.pdf, 176,911 bytes, dated 2025-11-19 in the CDN metadata but bearing the print code 9/25). Text extracted locally and quoted verbatim. Note the document does not use the phrase 'two witnesses' at all.
Scan provenance. Official PDF served by jw.org's own CDN (resolved via the page's GETPUBMEDIALINKS API, pub=cpt); document code 'cpt-E 9/25'.
Notes. IICSA recorded the first edition as published 2018. The NZ Royal Commission copy is the 12/20 edition; wording of par. 5 changed between 12/20 and 9/25 (see the NZ entry).
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-cpt-2025-0900-child-protection-position
May 2019 · pp.8-13 · pars. 13-18 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“Does this mean that before an allegation of abuse can be reported to the authorities, two witnesses are required? No. This requirement does not apply to whether elders or others report allegations of a crime.”
Par. 15. Par. 13: 'In places where such laws exist, elders endeavor to comply with secular laws about reporting allegations of abuse.' Par. 16: 'The absence of a second witness does not mean that the one making the accusation is untruthful.' Par. 18: a repentant abuser 'may never qualify to receive any congregation privileges or to serve in any position of responsibility'. IICSA described this article as the document that 'explained and expanded on' the worldwide policy for congregants.
April 2021 · ch. 12 par. 40(2); ch. 14 pars. 4, 6, 7 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania; produced by Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (Australasia) in response to NZ Royal Commission Notice to Produce 1 (doc ID JHV0000012)
“Eyewitnesses: There must be two or three eyewitnesses, not just people repeating hearsay; no action can be taken if there is only one witness. (Deut. 19:15-17; John 8:17; 1 Tim. 5:19, 24, 25) If there are two or three witnesses to the same kind of wrongdoing but each one is witness to a separate incident, the elders can consider their testimony.”
Ch. 12 par. 40(2), under 'Evidence Establishing Wrongdoing'. Ch. 14 par. 7: 'To ensure that elders comply with child-abuse reporting laws, two elders should immediately call the Legal Department for legal advice when the elders learn of an accusation of child abuse', with ten listed situations in which the call must still be made, including where 'the alleged abuse is based on the testimony of only one witness'. Ch. 14 par. 4 says the victim or anyone reporting 'should be clearly informed that they have the right to report the matter to the secular authorities. Elders do not criticize anyone who chooses to make such a report'.
Provenance and verification note for "Shepherd the Flock of God"—1 Peter 5:2, elders' handbook, April 2021 revision (chapters 12, 14, 16, 22), Chapter 12 'Determining Whether a Judicial Committee Should Be Formed' par. 40; Chapter 14 'Child Abuse' pars. 4-8
Confidence note. Downloaded and text-extracted the NZ-hosted PDF; quotations verbatim. The October 2021 and April 2022 full editions (also in the NZ library, EXT9990227 and EXT9990228) contain the same chapter 14 structure; the 2019 first edition and the 2023 edition were not opened.
Scan provenance. New Zealand Abuse in Care Royal Commission evidence library (public record); 35 pages.
Notes. The brief asked for 'ks19 ch.14: always call the branch office Legal Department first' — confirmed in this April 2021 text as ch. 14 par. 7 ('immediately call the Legal Department').
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-ks-2021-0400-shepherd-flock-ch12-ch14
1 December 2021 · pp.1-10 · pars. 1, 5, 6, 8 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (World Headquarters Legal Department); produced by Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (Australasia) (doc ID JHV0000013)
“If the victim or another minor is still in danger of abuse, the elders should report the matter to the secular authorities even if there is not a legal obligation to do so.”
Par. 8, which then lists screening questions (does the victim live in the accused's home; other minors in the home; proximity to minors) and says that if any answer is 'Yes' the Service Desk 'will direct that a report be made to the secular authorities'. Par. 1 restricts circulation to Branch Committee members, Service Department and Legal Department and forbids any electronic distribution. Par. 6: the Service Desk 'should assure the caller that he or she is free to report the allegation to the secular authorities'.
Provenance and verification note for Child Sexual Abuse—Guidelines for Branch Office Service Desks, Child Sexual Abuse—Guidelines for Branch Office Service Desks (Annexure K to CCJW Australasia response to NZ Royal Commission Notice to Produce 1)
Confidence note. Downloaded and text-extracted the NZ-hosted PDF; quotations verbatim. IICSA (2021) described this document as one of four core policy documents (its 2020 UK equivalent).
Scan provenance. New Zealand Abuse in Care Royal Commission evidence library (public record). The production date is 1 December 2021; the internal document is undated in the extract.
Notes. An earlier version of these guidelines (August 2013) was in evidence at the Australian Royal Commission (Case Study 29 report p. 21, endnote 109).
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-csa-guidelines-2021-1201-branch-service-desks
1 August 2016 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia (on behalf of the Governing Body's direction) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“That is a letter to All Bodies of Elders dated 1 August 2016. It is on the letterhead of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia.”
Counsel Assisting (Mr Stewart SC) introducing the letter in evidence, transcript p. 26500. At p. 26505 Mr O'Brien agreed that 'as at the date of the 1 August 2016 letter, the 1 October 2012 letter no longer applies'. The letter is the organisation's main post-Case-Study-29 policy revision, later superseded by the 2018 public policy and the 2019 elders' handbook.
No online copy located.
Provenance and verification note for Letter to All Bodies of Elders, 'Protecting Minors From Abuse', letter to all bodies of elders, 1 August 2016 (exhibited at Royal Commission Case Study 54, 10 March 2017)
Confidence note. The letter was not opened; its existence, date and status are established from the Case Study 54 transcript (copy opened) and the ABC's reporting of the hearing.
Notes. Sometimes called the 'August 2016 letter'. The brief's suggestion of a 2 September 2019 letter could not be located in any inquiry or court record examined.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-boe-2016-0801-letter-protecting-minors
10 March 2017 · pp.26486-26574 · pp. 26491-26493, 26500, 26505, 26513, 26524-26525, 26530, 26543 · Transcript produced by DTI · Commonwealth of Australia
“THE CHAIR: Yes. But if there are not two witnesses, you don't accept it, do you? MR O'BRIEN: Because scripturally we're not able to.”
P. 26543:13-16. At p. 26525:17-21 Mr O'Brien confirmed the organisation's response to the recommendation to modify the two-witness rule: 'the two-witness rule is required by the scriptures and can't be changed or avoided ... That's correct. That's our stand.' Counsel Assisting's opening (pp. 26492-26493) said that of 17 allegations received since Case Study 29 the organisation had reported 15 to the authorities, the two exceptions being adult survivors who elected not to report. At p. 26513 Mr O'Brien described the Branch Office practice of instructing elders that where there is a risk to a child 'the matter is to be reported to the police'.
Provenance and verification note for Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Case Study 54 (Institutional review of the Jehovah's Witnesses), transcript Day 259, Evidence of Terrence O'Brien and Rodney Spinks, 10 March 2017
Confidence note. Official transcript not opened (host unreachable); a complete copy was opened and the central quotation matches the ABC's contemporaneous report. Upgrade to 'verified' once the official PDF is opened.
Scan provenance. Copy of the DTI transcript (89 pp.) hosted by saysorry.org, a survivor-advocacy (discovery-tier) site; used because the official host was unreachable. Key quotation independently reported by ABC News on the day.
Notes. Case Study 54 was the follow-up 'institutional review' hearing held on Friday 10 March 2017. The Governing Body did not give evidence at this hearing.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-arc-2017-0310-cs54-day259-transcript
2 September 2021 · pp.Part B para 15.4 (p. 15); Part D paras 19-21 (pp. 42-43); Part E paras 6.3-7 (pp. 65-66); Part F para 17 (pp. 91-92); Part H para 25 (p. 113) · Part H.1 para 25 · Professor Alexis Jay OBE (Chair) and Panel · Crown copyright (HC 705)
“The rule is not intended to be a safeguarding measure. Nevertheless, it has no place in any response to child sexual abuse and fails to reflect the reality that by its very nature child sexual abuse is most often perpetrated in the absence of witnesses. ... As it presently operates, the Jehovah's Witnesses internal disciplinary process for disfellowshipping members bears no relationship to how sexual crime happens. The continuing use of this rule shows a disregard of the seriousness of the crimes involved and their impact on individuals. It also lacks compassion for the victim, and serves to protect the perpetrator.”
Part H.1 Conclusions, para 25 (p. 113). Part B para 15.4: over 131,700 members in England and Wales; records showed allegations concerning 67 individuals reported to the Branch Office in the previous ten years, including 25 against elders and 32 against ministerial servants. Part D para 19 lists the four core policy documents (2018 public statement; Watchtower May 2019; Shepherd the Flock of God; Guidelines for Branch Office Service Desks) and notes that the two documents that explain how to refer matters to statutory authorities 'are not circulated to members of the congregation'. Part E para 6.4: the Service Department 'does not make reports to the statutory authorities'. Part E para 7: Lancashire County Council v E & F [2020] EWHC 182 (Fam) — elders told in 2016, police not informed until July 2019; Lieven J spoke of 'very great concern about the safeguarding of children within the Jehovah's Witness community'. Part F para 17: the Charity Commission's Harvey Grenville called the level of legal challenge 'simply unprecedented'.
Provenance and verification note for Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), Child protection in religious organisations and settings: Investigation Report
Confidence note. gov.uk PDF downloaded and text-extracted; all quotations verbatim with printed page numbers. iicsa.org.uk HTML pages returned 403 to automated fetch.
Scan provenance. gov.uk copy of the report (224-page PDF). Printed page numbers are 14 lower than PDF page numbers.
Notes. Published 2 September 2021 after 16 hearing days in 2020. IICSA made two recommendations (policy/training; unregistered educational settings); neither is JW-specific.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-iicsa-2021-0902-religious-organisations-report
A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-safeguarding-reforms-2016-2025/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.