A second statement, by two survivors, Emma and Samantha – who had agreed to be named – was also read out at the meeting.
They said they and others were in the process of “setting up a survivors’ committee – where survivors, and only survivors, have a voice”.
“Moving forward, we hope the council remains transparent, and politics are kept aside, and the far right stop using this for their own agenda,” their statement said.
“Survivors are the start, and heart, of this inquiry.”
A terms of reference for Oldham Council’s inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation is expected in the coming months.
The government has announced £5m to support any local review into child sexual exploitation. It comes after a Labour minister faced a backlash for refusing the council’s request for a government-led Oldham inquiry.
Council officers are set to meet those who carried out a similar local review in Telford, which led to a damning report revealing more than 1,000 girls had been abused locally.
