Child abuse: Elizabeth Bourne unveils new government plan

On the occasion of International Children’s Day, the Prime Minister is presenting this Monday the government’s new plan to combat violence against children for the period 2023-2027. Elisabeth Bourne will chair the third Interministerial Committee for Children (CIE) this afternoon in Matignon, a body created in November 2022 to develop a “transversal vision for children’s policy”, which met again in June.

In the presence of eleven members of the government, including the Secretary of State for Children Charlotte Caudel, the CIE will have two priority topics, Matignon points out: an anti-violence plan for 2023-2027, which will replace the plan launched in 2020, and strengthening State action in favor of protected and vulnerable children.

In the morning, Elisabeth Born will travel with Charlotte Kobel and Gérald Darmanin to Nanterre (Hautes-de-Seine) to visit the Central Office of Minors (Ofmin), responsible for coordinating the operational activities of the police and gendarmerie. The Prime Minister will also visit the L’Enfant Bleu victims’ aid association in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hautes-de-Seine).

The plan announced on Monday could overhaul the number of Ofmin investigators, of which there are currently 35, as well as the resources allocated to preventing this violence, such as calling and wiretapping number platforms. The government should also create 10 departmental delegate positions “dedicated to the management of child protection”, recruited on a trial basis to act as interlocutors with departmental councils, Matignon said.

Financial assistance for adults

The second topic discussed on Monday: government action on behalf of protected and vulnerable children. On November 10, during the departmental sessions of France, Elisabeth Borne called for a “general mobilization in defense of childhood,” which is a pressing issue for these communities and in their relations with the state.

Some 370,000 children are subject to protection under the Children’s Social Assistance (ASE) program, the services of which, following the passage of the major decentralization laws of 1982 and 1983, became the responsibility and responsibility of the President of the Departmental Council. The Prime Minister referred to “new commitments” that would be made during the CIE, “in particular regarding health and education” for these children.

In addition, Elisabeth Bourne is due to announce a new “young adult autonomy package” for young people leaving ASE at 18, including, among other things, a now automatic “financial increase” of €1,500 paid to most.

The creation of this inter-ministerial committee comes after the publication of the long-awaited report of Ciivise, the commission responsible, among other things, for combating incest. In an interview with JDD, Charlotte Kobel assured that the Commission must continue to exist with a “new road map”, while associations fear for the sustainability of this organization.