"You will never be alone again," President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday 23 January to the victims of sexual violence against minors, promising in a video and a series of tweets to leave "no respite for the aggressors" and to "adapt our law".

"Against sexual violence against our children, it is now up to us to act", added the Head of State, while the debate on incest has resurfaced after the publication of a book by Camille Kouchner.

"Shame today changes sides", he continued, welcoming that "the word, everywhere in France, is free" and that "the silence built by the criminals and the successive cowardice, finally, explodes ".

These testimonies, these words, these cries, no one can ignore them anymore.

Against sexual violence against our children, it is now up to us to act: https://t.co/QcCSo4o528

- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 23, 2021

"We will not give the aggressors any respite, none," he said.

"We need to punish the criminals for their past acts and to prevent any recidivism."

In addition, "we must adapt our law to better protect children victims of incest and sexual violence," said the Head of State, indicating having asked the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, and Secretary of State for Children and Families, Adrien Taquet, "to conduct a consultation which should quickly lead to proposals".

A mission to "collect testimonies and protect the victims"

The French president announced that "two screening and prevention meetings against sexual violence against children - one in primary school, the other in college - will be set up for all, in the cycle of compulsory medical visits existing ".

In addition, to "support reconstruction", "psychological care for children victims of sexual violence will be reimbursed".

Emmanuel Macron also indicates that a mission to "collect testimonies and protect the victims" was entrusted to Édouard Durand, children's judge, and Nathalie Mathieu, director of a specialized association.

In early January, the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation for rape and sexual assault, including on minors, after accusations of incest brought against the constitutionalist and political scientist Olivier Duhamel.

In a book entitled "La Familia Grande", Camille Kouchner, stepdaughter of Olivier Duhamel, accuses the political scientist of having inflicted sexual violence on his brother when they were teenagers.

These accusations caused a shock wave in the country and aroused multiple testimonies on social networks.

"These testimonies, these words, sometimes these cries, no one can ignore them", declares Emmanuel Macron.

With AFP and Reuters

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