Europe 1 with AFP 9:59 a.m., March 30, 2022, modified at 9:59 a.m., March 30, 2022

They are 14, 17 or older and have one thing in common: they were victims of sexual violence during a summer camp.

A drama still very taboo in France, but brought to light thanks to an influencer, Anissa, who decided to share the hundreds of testimonials sent by Internet users, some of whom are minors.

"I was a teenager, he abused me": on social networks, young people denounce sexual violence committed by animators supervising minors on vacation, a nascent movement, at the initiative of an influencer.

Every summer, Ana* went to the leisure center in her town, in Normandy.

A 24-year-old new host was very friendly towards her when she was 13.

But "during a swimming pool outing, where I was the only girl, he abused me in the locker room", describes Ana.

The 17-year-old girl speaks of this rape for the first time, encouraged by similar testimonies published on social networks, in particular TikTok, very used by young people.

>> READ ALSO - 

Sexual violence against minors: how the handling of complaints will be reformed

This movement was initiated in early March by Anissa, 21, influencer and summer camp host, who received "hundreds of testimonials" after making a video on the subject on TikTok, viewed more than 1.5 million. times.

The feminist activist wants to show the "problem" in the animation sector so that "there is an evolution".

"I heard animators sexualize 13-year-old girls, flirt, ask them for their number," says Anissa.

Like other supervisors, she believes that the subject of sexual violence is insufficiently addressed during training for the facilitator's certificate (Bafa) which allows minors to be supervised on an occasional basis in leisure centers or summer camps.

The subject is systematically addressed

“We are not taught to spot signs of violence,” notes Sonia*, 24, who works in animation and has already observed inappropriate behavior in some colleagues.

"The Bafa is very interesting, but much too short".

To obtain this diploma, accessible from the age of 17, it is necessary to follow a general theoretical training of eight days offered by various organizations, to carry out a practical internship of 14 days and to participate in a six-day deepening session.

"We carry out specific work on the emotional relationship and authority" vis-à-vis minors so that the future facilitator manages to position himself well, explains Laurent Bernardi, national director at Ceméa, Bafa training organizations.

>> READ ALSO -

 Sexual violence: MPs unanimous to strengthen the protection of minors

The subject of sexual violence is "systematically addressed", according to him.

It can, however, be "pretty quick" to say that any sexual relationship between a minor and an adult having authority over him is prohibited by law, he adds.

Some criticize the close ages of minors and supervisors, a configuration that can encourage flirting.

For Anne-Sophie Chéron, clinical psychologist, it is above all necessary "to explain to young instructors that they can be the object of interest" and that they "must not transgress the limits".

"The child or the teenager is looking for tenderness, he can find himself embarked in spite of himself in something that goes beyond if the facilitator is not very clear on the limits", she explains.

The freedom of speech

Estelle* was "manipulated" at the age of 14 by a 27-year-old facilitator in the Ardèche campsite where she spent her holidays.

"He said sweet words to me, gave me affection, I believed in it, I didn't realize it was serious," says the young woman who was touched.

Aged 23, she now testifies in the hope that "young people can see this kind of message" and dare to "speak up" on the subject.

Anonymous testimonies, published on #MeTooAnimation accounts, also denounce sexual abuse committed against children.

“Assaults take place everywhere but in summer camp, some children are in a fragile situation because they are far from their parents”, describes Violaine Guérin, founder of the association Stop sexual violence.

In January, the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children (Ciivise) indicated that 10% of the first 3,800 testimonies it had received concerned victims of sexual violence within institutions (schools, sports etc.).

Of this sample, 20% of testimonials concerned a summer camp.

La Ciivise, which calls on victims of sexual violence in institutions to testify at 0.805.802.804, will publish recommendations on Thursday to strengthen the "culture of protection".

*Names have been changed