Why we should talk about non-recent instead of historic abuse

Last updated: 03 Sept 2026 Type: Why language matters blog

When we think of something as historic or historical, we think of it as being consigned to the past, as not being a present concern.

In using this language to talk about child abuse, we risk dismissing the lived and living experiences of those who have experienced abuse in childhood. For many victims and survivors, the effects of child abuse are ongoing and deeply felt, often shaping their wellbeing, relationships and sense of safety into adulthood.

At the NSPCC, we talk about ‘non-recent’ instead of ‘historic’ abuse. This language aims to acknowledge the long-term impact of child abuse and reinforce the importance of ongoing support for those who have experienced it.

In this blog, we refer to ‘victims and survivors’ or ‘victims/survivors’ to reflect the different language preferences of adults who have experienced abuse, in line with the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel set up as part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

> Read our Why language matters blog discussing the use of the term ‘victim’ when talking about child abuse

Key points to take away

The terms ‘historic abuse’ or ‘non-recent abuse’ are often used when an adult reports abuse they experienced as a child.
When we talk about ‘historic’ abuse, we minimise the impact of abuse and risk reinforcing the idea that once the abuse has stopped the impact on individuals and work of support services is complete.
Using trauma-informed language such as ‘non-recent abuse’ supports victims/survivors to speak out and share their experiences.
Talking about ‘non-recent abuse’ helps professionals and services to better recognise and provide support for the ongoing impact of child abuse for children, adults and their families.
Individuals may choose to use different words to describe their experiences and it’s important that professionals and services are sensitive to this.

What do we mean by non-recent abuse?

The terms ‘non-recent’ or ‘historic’ abuse are typically used by services when an adult reports abuse that they experienced as a child.¹ It may be the first time the adult has shared their experience, or they may have reported the abuse as a child but the report may not have been taken seriously, or they may not have received an appropriate response at the time.

There are many reasons why people might struggle to share their experiences of child abuse, either at the time or as adults. These reasons include:

not knowing it was abuse
not experiencing the impact of abuse until later
shame about their experience
being discouraged or silenced from speaking out by their abuser or people around them
fear of not being believed or potential reactions to speaking out
fear of reprisals
lack of support.²

‘Historic’ minimises the impact of abuse

Talking about abuse as ‘historic’ positions the abuse in the past and risks implying that its effects are also in the past and no longer felt. This language can minimise and overlook the ongoing impact of harm for victims and survivors.

This language may also legitimise the sense that once the abuse is stopped, the work of professionals and support services is complete. However, we know that stopping the abuse is just the start. Healing and processing trauma can be a long and non-linear process that often requires sustained support to address the complex and long-lasting impacts of abuse. This may include holding to account those responsible for the abuse.

When we talk about ‘historic’ abuse, we risk minimising the importance of ongoing support to work through the impact of abuse or the need to deliver justice and closure for victims/survivors.

It discourages people from speaking out

It can be incredibly difficult for people who have experienced abuse in childhood to build up the confidence to talk about their experiences as adults.³ There can be many reasons for this, included:

being unsure of their memory of the abuse due to the passage of time
worrying that their experiences will be dismissed because they happened a long time ago
feeling unable to speak out because the abuser is still in their life.

These barriers can be exacerbated when we frame their experience in terms of ‘historic’ abuse. For example, using the word ‘historic’ may lead people to question the clarity or accuracy of their memory, affecting their ability to trust their own experiences and feelings. It may also exacerbate possible fears that their experience won’t be validated or taken seriously on account of it happening a long time ago.⁴

Supporting people to speak out is crucial for many reasons, including the possibility that the person who caused harm may still be harming children. This possibility is often a reason why people choose to come forward as adults. It’s important that the language we use supports people to share their experiences.

Using trauma-informed language

We need to be sensitive to and seek to understand the experiences, feelings and expectations of victims and survivors. This should be reflected in the language we use.

‘Non-recent’ abuse helps us to talk about the experiences of those who were abused as children in a more sensitive, trauma-informed way. Unlike with ‘historic’ abuse, we avoid implying that their experiences are no longer impacting them or that they’re no longer in need of support or redress.

In reframing our language to talk about ‘non-recent’ abuse, we:

encourage people to speak out about their experiences without worrying that they will be dismissed or minimised
help professionals and services to recognise the long-term impact of abuse and provide appropriate support
enable professionals to take action to safeguard other children or vulnerable adults who may be at risk
create and support psychological safety among victims/survivors
promote trust and engagement between victims/survivors and services
value the lived and living experiences of those who have experienced abuse.

It’s also important to recognise that people might choose to use different words to describe their experiences. We should think carefully about how our words might be understood and experienced by the people we support and make sure our language reflects the strength and resilience people show in navigating and sharing their experiences of abuse.

> If you experienced abuse in childhood or want to find out more about non-recent abuse, you can visit the NSPCC website for information, advice and support

Why language matters series

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