The commission's mission will be to collect quantified data on the extent of incest in France.

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Philippe LOPEZ / AFP

  • Co-chaired by Nathalie Mathieu, director general of the Doctors Bru association, and Edouard Durand, magistrate, the independent commission on incest met for the first time this Thursday.

  • Composed of magistrates, lawyers, members of the police, researchers, psychologists or even pediatricians, it must go to meet the victims of incest and hear their words.

  • Anxious to "go quickly", the two co-presidents expressed their desire to very quickly set up "visible" actions for the prevention and care of underage victims of sexual violence and the perpetrators.

In a large room installed in the basement of the Ministry of Sports, the emotion was palpable this Thursday morning.

Three months after its creation, the independent commission on incest and sexual violence against children (Ciivise) officially started its work.

Enamelled last January by the resignation of its previous president, Elisabeth Guigou, after being cited as close to Olivier Duhamel, accused of incestuous rape by his daughter-in-law Camille Kouchner, the instance has taken a new start.

Composed of 20 permanent members and seven associate members, this commission will have two years to "change the view of society on sexual violence against children", detailed this Thursday the Secretary of State for Children and Families, Adrien Taquet.

Now led by the children's judge Edouard Durand and Nathalie Mathieu, general manager of the Doctors Bru association which takes care of victims of incest, this unique commission in France was particularly expected.

" Go fast "

Faced with all the members responsible for working alongside them, the two presidents detailed the immense task that now awaits them.

"Our first duty is to express our collective consideration towards all victims of sexual violence during childhood, with a slogan pronounced by the President of the Republic on January 23:" We believe you "" , insisted Edouard Durand.

Concerned about “going quickly” and making their actions “visible”, Nathalie Mathieu revealed to her future colleagues the various missions to be carried out in the short, medium and long term.

To listen and collect the words of the victims, compile and synthesize quantitative data on incest, the commission will be able to rely "on the administrations of the ministries concerned", pledged Adrien Taquet.

Justice, Education, Interior, Culture and Health will be the main concerned, he added.

Two seminars to meet victims will also be organized by the summer, said Nathalie Mathieu.

Divided into different thematic groups - professional practices, care, police-justice, research and societal issues - the members of this body will have to nourish and enrich public policies to fight against this phenomenon.

Experts and victims gathered

Multidisciplinary, the commission will also be able to count on the expertise of magistrates, researchers, psychiatrists, pediatricians, as well as a lawyer, a policewoman and a gendarme.

It will be based on the experience of seven “great witnesses” and victims such as Eva Thomas or the ex-rugby player Sébastien Boueilh, who have become active players against sexual violence against minors.

In front of them, Adrien Taquet wanted to salute "their courage" and that "of all those who dared to testify to the rapes suffered during their childhood and the devastation caused on their daily life".

To make its actions visible, the commission should quickly set up a website and a telephone number dedicated to victims.

Before the drafting of their final report, the members of this body must also deliver interim conclusions within a year.

Convinced of the change of outlook made by society in recent months on this subject, the Secretary of State for Child Protection concluded by formulating this final wish: "Let us hope that the cover of silence and denial will never again be covered. closes.

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  • Justice

  • Sexual violence

  • Commission

  • Society

  • Child

  • Incest

  • Child protection