• The Solfa association is launching an experimental device for underage prostitutes.

    In a secret place in a rural environment, around ten teenage girls will follow a six-month program.

  • The idea is to build with these young volunteer girls a life course outside of prostitution.

Do not leave children on the side of the road. While most teenage girls lead carefree lives, others go through a row in sordid hotels. The phenomenon of underage prostitution, "that we did not want to see", is however a terrible reality, especially in the North. And if this does not date from yesterday, associations note a "awakening of the public authorities", certainly recent, but nevertheless commendable. Thus, the Solfa association received a subsidy of one million euros from the State to finance a new and experimental reception system for minors who are victims of prostitution.

It is particularly difficult to estimate the number of underage prostitutes in France.

According to the Ministry of Children and Families, they are between 7,000 and 10,000, aged 12 to 18.

In the North, the Entr'Actes association lists “40 young people whose minority is confirmed” and “25 reported by partners of the association”.

The youngest is only 10 years old.

The vast majority of them come from social assistance for children, taken out of any family or institutional framework, often consuming narcotics, these teenage girls are extremely reluctant to accept help from associations.

"Create a bond of trust with these unstructured teenagers"

“For a year now, we have had an open accommodation system to accommodate these minors over renewable three-month periods,” explains Jean-Yves Jalain, director of the child protection center of the Solfa association. Overall, young girls find refuge there, seeing their primary needs met without any restrictive compensation. “It is above all about creating a bond of trust with these unstructured teenagers,” admits the social worker. Two places today, four by the end of the year, "it's not enough but still better than zero", admits Jean-Yves Jalain.

In November, a new device will be tested for two years by Solfa.

There is always talk of welcoming minors who are victims of prostitution, but on a larger scale and with stricter rules.

The place, kept secret, is located in a "rural sector", to avoid the temptation to fall back into prostitution or drug addiction.

"We are no longer in an unconditional welcome, but in an adhesion to the program which will be offered to them", explains Jean-Yves Jalain.

"Getting these young girls to think of something other than prostitution"

On a six-month program, the first 45 days will be an observation period during which participants will not be allowed to go outside or use a cell phone. “Hard, but not impossible. We rely on the volunteering of young girls ready to do something because their situation is too complicated. Either because they have been victims of violence or because they are in poor health, ”he continues. A month and a half of "psychic stripping" which should also allow the participants to find a normal rhythm of life.

Over the following months, the fifteen social workers, psychologists or educators will work to open up the horizon of adolescent girls. "The idea is to get these young girls to think of something other than prostitution through individual and collective educational and therapeutic work", details the director of the child protection center of Solfa. . To avoid boredom pushing them to run away, activities will be regularly offered to them, in particular market gardening, breeding, sport or even fun stays.

The key is to prepare the young girls for the release of the device.

At the end of the six months, depending on the situation, they may be referred to institutions, return to their families or even carry out a transitional period in autonomy in apartments in Solfa.

And Jean-Yves Jalain insists: "everything will be considered so as not to let these teenagers go without a real life project".

Politics

Underage prostitution: The government promises a plan to fight this scourge in the fall

Television

“Forbidden zone”: “We cannot close our eyes to teenage prostitution”, proclaims journalist Clarisse Verrier

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