"We believe you": the Incest Commission calls on victims to testify
At the Jean Bru foster home, which offers specific care for children who have suffered from domestic sexual violence, in Agen, December 10, 2020. AFP - PHILIPPE LOPEZ
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The Incest Commission launched a telephone platform on Tuesday, September 21 to collect the voices of victims of sexual violence in childhood and draw inspiration from their experiences to define tools to protect children.
This platform will also allow victims to be listened to by interveners and to be referred if they need help.
Victims of sexual violence may also, if they wish, testify in writing on the website of the Ciivise (Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children), under the aegis of the Secretary of State responsible for childhood.
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Free speech is the whole objective of this telephone platform. Child psychiatrists observe it: children victims of sexual violence take shape without a mouth. A very significant detail, as explained by Édouard Durand, who was a juvenile judge for 17 years and co-chaired the commission: “
The aggressor seeks to ensure his impunity. To do this, he implements a strategy. And in the aggressor's strategy, silence has always been imposed.
"
But thanks to the telephone reception, among others, the victims will dare to speak: "
It is difficult for a child or an adult person to speak, because there is the fear of not being believed,
continues Édouard Durand.
And it is very important, therefore, to open spaces, where the child victim of sexual violence will say to himself: "This adult, I can trust him. If I reveal to him the violence that I suffer, he will believe me."
"
►
To listen: "How to speak since it would be to admit that I am nothing", testifies Geneviève Garrigos, victim of incest
160,000 minors victims of sexual violence each year
For the magistrate, it is very important that these words be heard by a public body: "
It embodies the fact that society is aware that victims of sexual violence have suffered extremely serious trauma and that it is
responsible for giving them protection
, so that children grow up with dignity and integrity.
Sexual violence affects around 160,000 minors each year.
►
To read also: Emmanuel Macron wants to toughen the law against incest
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