Collages in Paris refer to -
Francois Mori / AP / SIPA
After the publication of the book
La Familia grande
, by Camille Kouchner, the debate on the fight against sexual violence against children has focused on the need for judicial reform.
Three texts relating to this subject must be debated and examined by the National Assembly and the Senate in the coming weeks.
If the modification of the law is desirable for associations, they also call on the government to strengthen prevention actions and training of professionals in contact with victims.
More than two weeks after the shock wave caused by the publication of the book
La Familia Grande
, by Camille Kouchner, in which she recounts the incest suffered by her twin brother, the Head of State finally spoke.
In a video broadcast on January 23 on social networks, Emmanuel Macron said he was in favor of a change in the law “to better protect children who are victims of incest and sexual violence”.
Both mandated by the President of the Republic, the Minister of Justice and the Secretary of State for Child Protection received the first actors in the sector Monday morning.
A consultation which should lead to "proposals" for legislative reform.
Because since the publication of Camille Kouchner's book, the law has been attacked from all sides.
Two subjects - the setting of an age of non-consent and the notion of imprescriptibility - occupy the public debate and several elected officials have already taken up.
In total, three texts should be examined in the weeks and months to come.
But can the law do everything?
Why was the need for judicial reform so quickly imposed and what other levers exist?
Debates following on from the Schiappa law
If since the revelations of the Duhamel affair and the emergence of the “#MeTooInceste” movement on social networks, the debates have focused on the evolution of the law, it is because the subject is not new, believe the associative actors.
Already mobilized during the Schiappa law on sexual violence in 2018, the associations believe that the government did not go far enough by renouncing to set a threshold of "non-consent", allowing minors to be automatically considered as victim of rape or sexual assault below a certain age.
"We were extremely disappointed at the time, and the judicial machine continues to crush the victims", denounces Céline Piques, spokesperson for the association Osez le feminisme!
She also attached to a modification of the law, Isabelle Debré, president of the association L'Enfant bleu, received Monday by Eric Dupond-Moretti and Secretary of State Adrien Taquet, adds: “We obviously talked about the legal side, which we hold, but we recalled that judicial reform alone was not enough ”.
Screening, prevention and training
Two announcements made by the Head of State during his speech are today welcomed by the two activists.
“Reimbursing psychological care for children victims of sexual violence and creating two screening and prevention meetings against sexual violence, at primary school and then at college, seems relevant to us,” explains Isabelle Debré.
“But we ask to accelerate, complete Céline Piques.
Today, while the law makes mandatory three prevention and education interventions in the sexual and emotional life per year and per class, from primary to high school, we realize that this is still not the case.
"
The collection of children's voices must also be at the center of the reform - if there is any reform -, continues the activist.
“We are proposing a very simple thing: that school doctors, at each consultation, systematically ask children if they have ever been victims of sexual abuse, for example.
"A job that requires specific training, warns Isabelle Debré of L'Enfant Bleu:" We are pleading for the presence of a psychologist trained in psycho-trauma in schools.
Not everyone is able to hear the word of a child victim of incest.
"
. @ AdrienTaquet "The situation of children facing sexual violence is so catastrophic that it must become a social issue in order to be able to be resolved. It must remain on the front page of the news".
#HelloChezYou pic.twitter.com/AlfczqyjA2
- Public Senate (@publicsenat) January 22, 2021
A boost
Launched in 2019 by the Secretary of State for Child Protection, Adrien Taquet, the plan to fight violence against children could therefore experience a boost.
“The difficulty with this plan lies in the interministerial nature.
The speech of the President of the Republic will allow us to intensify the projects already launched, in particular on the subject of sexual violence, ”hopes the entourage of the Secretary of State.
Five new units specializing in the treatment of psycho-trauma should soon be created.
And 36 new pediatric reception units for children at risk (UAPED) - in addition to the 64 already existing in various hospitals in the territory - must be developed by 2022.
We need to adapt our law to better protect children who are victims of incest and sexual violence.
It is a complex subject.
I asked @E_DupondM and @AdrienTaquet to conduct a consultation which should quickly lead to proposals.
- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 23, 2021
The question of the financial resources allocated by the State remains open.
While no overall budget was communicated when the plan to combat violence against children was presented, a financial effort was nevertheless granted for 119, the national number for listening to children in danger.
In total, 600,000 euros have been allocated to strengthen this service.
As for the development of UAPEDs, a sum of 2.3 million euros was validated in the last finance bill, specifies Adrien Taquet's entourage at
20 Minutes
.
But the subject remains sensitive for associations.
This is evidenced by the press release released on Monday by the feminist collective Les Effronté-es: "The lack of means is always the major absence of debates and in particular of government communication: President Macron, who spoke this Saturday, January 23, n 'made no mention of it.
Laws cannot be enforced without means.
Justice cannot be exercised properly without means.
"
Justice
Gérard Louvin targeted by a complaint from his nephew for "complicity in rape of a minor"
Justice
Incest: Prohibiting and punishing sexual acts between adults and minors under 13, what can that change?
Eric Dupond-Moretti
Rape
Emmanuel Macron
Society
Olivier Duhamel
Sexual violence
Child protection
Incest