We must all tackle the systemic racism that led to the abuse of Child Q

‘We all, as a society, must work together to tackle and challenge systemic racism which allows the horrific treatment of young people like Child Q to take place.’ Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

We wish to express our horror at the abuse Child Q faced at the hands of the adults who should have been keeping her safe in school. That she wasn’t is a damning failure of our society.

But this isn’t about one child in one school in one area of the country; there is an urgent need to tackle the systemic racism that continues to affect children at every level of our institutions and society. Never again should a child be forced to suffer in this way.