The LREM deputy of Marseille Cathy Racon-Bouzon became, with her husband, the referent of Samba, a young Gambian, unaccompanied minor (MNA).
She is trying to change the laws so that unaccompanied minors are better received.
Two of the amendments it brought forward were retained.
The department of Bouches-du-Rhône has been summoned several times by the courts to take care of unaccompanied minors.
The Defender of Rights considers that the community does not respect its duties in terms of taking charge of these rights.
“He would call me in the middle of the night, he would say, 'Please, help me! Please, help me! ”. This call for help Cathy Racon-Bouzon, LREM member of the 5th district of Bouches-du-Rhône (4th arrondissement of Marseille and part of 5th and 6th) received it on her personal Samba * phone, a young Gambian aged 17 years, according to his birth certificate. "Since then, I see reality through his eyes ...", underlines the elected representative of the Republic
Arrived in Marseille a few months ago, Samba spent many nights in the street while the protection of children, which comes under the departmental council via the devices of social assistance to children (ASE), should have offer him temporary emergency accommodation while he is assessing his minority and his isolation on the territory. But in the Bouches-du-Rhône, we know the system is more than faulty, this has been pointed out several times by the justice, the regional court of accounts, the Defender of rights ... Indeed, unaccompanied minors (unaccompanied minors), including the number has increased in recent years, can spend several weeks - even several months - outside before the Departmental Association for the Development of Prevention Actions (Addap 13), a structure mandated by the department to take care of this public,do not set up a first shelter. By law, it should be immediate.
Field activist
"Samba, I met him in Bougainville, when he was leaving Addap", explains Cathy Racon-Bouzon. Exchanges and then links were forged between the young Gambian and the MP. To the point that she became, with her husband, the referent of the young boy. Not as an elected official, but as a simple citizen acting within the Reception Network for unaccompanied minots (Ramina), a structure made up of volunteers. The politician has therefore become a grassroots activist. “He was assessed as an adult, but an appeal was filed with the children's judge. If his assessment is confirmed, he will therefore be what we call a mijeur: minor in these administrative acts, but considered major in France. And there, the situation would become more complicated for him. My job as a member of Parliament is to change the laws. But there, personally,I wouldn't know what to do… ”
"I proposed a battery of amendments"
It is precisely by working to "change the laws" that the elected representative of the majority embarked on this adventure.
“At the start,” she explains, “I was on the education committee at the Assembly, where I worked a lot on the education of children, and in particular this type of audience.
Then, joining the committee on migration, I decided to explore the question of unaccompanied minors.
I met the associations in the field, Addap 13, Ramina, Médecins sans frontières, Collectif 59 Saint-Just to realize the reality of the facts… I was not disappointed.
"
The cause seems to have affected him.
She then took concrete action, accompanying the administrative journey of the young Samba.
But also on the benches of the Palais Bourbon, in particular within the framework of the Child Protection bill passed last July.
“I proposed a battery of amendments and tried to make the departmental councils face up to their responsibilities.
"Two were retained:" the systematic support up to 21 years of young people leaving the ASE "and" the prohibition to reassess the minority of a young person in another department ".
Others were rejected, "but Secretary of State Adrien Taquet explained to me that my proposals were less expensive compared to the existing law, which already requires immediate shelter".
“If it doesn't earn a voice, nobody takes care of it.
"
She explains this commitment by returning to the origins of her political career, which dates from the 2017 presidential election. “When we launched En Marche, we wanted to put Mr. and Mrs. Everyone in the Assembly. It worked for me, and I have the opportunity to take concrete action. "Saïd Ahamada, another LREM deputy from Marseille, said he was not surprised by the action of his colleague:" It's Cathy all spat. And we meet on these questions. In Marseille, the importance of the subjects depends on a possible electoral interest. If it doesn't earn a voice, no one takes care of it. But Cathy doesn't work like that. It is not there to please voters, but to move the country forward. It's a Republican commitment, it's the right thing to do. "
"Can that handicap me in politics?"
But that, I don't care!
»Asserts Cathy Racon-Bouzon with a smile.
And to explain: "I am here to make things change, I am committed to that.
What is politically promising is that people see that we are moving so that the situation evolves.
And then, you know, this young person, if I am not there, if he does not have support, if he stays on the street, in 15 days he is recruited into a network.
"And the militant MP concluded:" To protect him is to protect the whole of society. "
* The first name has been changed.
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Cleat in contact with childcare professionals in Marseille this Monday
Within the framework of this bill relating to the protection of children, Adrien Taquet, Secretary of State in charge of Children and Families, will be in Marseille all day this Monday to discuss with actors in the field, professionals and volunteers. , and young people from child welfare.
He will visit various reception sites.
Society
Minor
Deputy
Migrants
Marseilles