In simple terms the law says that you have the right not to be abused.
If you have been abused then you are the victim of a criminal offence. You have the right to complain to the police who are obliged to investigate, and place a file before the Crown Prosection Service (CPS) with a view to a decision being made as to whether the abuser should be prosecuted.
If the CPS decline to prosecute you might be able to commence a private prosecution and this is something you should take legal advice on.
A decision to prosecute (or not) will be dependant on a number of factors such as, for example, the strength of the evidence, for example are the complaints of abuse corroborated in other words supported by witnesses such as other victims?
Sometimes the decision is made not to prosecute because the alleged abuser is old and ill, or the evidence is not as strong as to ensure a reasonable chance of a conviction, or maybe none can be found at all. It may also be possible to make a civil claim for compensation against the abuser or an organisation responsible for the abuse. There are practicable consideration such as do we know the identity of the abuser, are they still around, can we prove the allegations, and is it financially worth suing? There is no point in suing a “man of straw” or an organisation that was uninsured and has no assets.
The sole object in reality in bringing a civil claim is to obtain damages (compensation). This is the only remedy available. The court orders the wrongdoer to pay the victim damages to compensate them for the injury or wrong suffered, whether the abuse is sexual or physical.