France to Survey Schoolchildren on Sexual Violence in New Anti-Bullying Initiative

As the new academic year commenced in France, the government introduced a series of unprecedented measures, including a ban on mobile phones in primary and secondary schools, alongside new steps to address sexual violence. For the first time, France's annual school questionnaire on bullying—which has been distributed to pupils since 2023—will include questions on sexual violence. Pupils will have the option to remain anonymous when completing the questionnaire, which is scheduled for distribution in November.

Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV on 25 August, France's education minister, Édouard Geffray, stated that approximately 10 million pupils, ranging from primary to secondary school, would complete the form. The questionnaire was designed in collaboration with school staff, parents' associations, and a committee of experts, including child psychiatrists. According to the minister, the findings from the survey could be "seismic."

Under the established protocol, teachers will collect the forms first. If any responses raise concerns, school leaders are expected to intervene, either by reporting the case to the relevant regional education authority or, in more serious situations, referring the matter directly to the justice system.

Rising Concerns Over Abuse Statistics

This initiative follows numerous child sexual violence scandals in France, particularly within supervised childcare services. In Paris alone, there are 203 criminal investigations underway into alleged acts of violence, including sexual violence, in schools and after-school settings, according to official figures dated 26 August.

Despite these figures, schools remain the primary location where child sexual abuse reports are filed, averaging 80,000 reports annually, according to the education minister. Estimates made in 2023 by the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children (CIIVISE) assessed that approximately 160,000 children are victims of sexual violence every year in France, with 77% of this abuse occurring within a family environment. This figure equates to one child being raped or sexually assaulted every three minutes.

Mixed Reactions From Parents

The education minister noted that questions regarding sexual violence will be tailored to the ages of the pupils. Nonetheless, parents have expressed mixed feelings about the initiative. Samuel Bougnat, a father of a three-year-old, views the measure as a positive step, stating that schools have a role to play in providing support and reporting potential violence, serving as a sanctuary where children feel confident to speak out.

Another father of two young children, who chose to remain anonymous, also supported the measure, calling it pragmatic since all children attend school at some point. However, he added that he would pay close attention to how the forms are rolled out to ensure they are appropriate for younger children.

Conversely, some parents remain skeptical. Caroline Varas, mother of a four-and-a-half-year-old son, questioned whether schools should bear this responsibility alone, suggesting a collaborative approach involving independent parents' associations, local councils, and schools. She expressed concern that schools acting in isolation might seek to protect themselves, noting a lack of intermediary communication between schools and parents based on her past experiences with non-sexual violence at her child's school.

Caution From Child Protection Groups and Unions

Laura Morin-Baudet, head of the Paris-based child abuse non-profit L'Enfant Bleu, welcomed the ministry's focus on child sexual violence but raised practical concerns. She emphasized that the effectiveness of the questionnaire depends heavily on the environment in which children answer the questions, noting that fear or lack of privacy could prevent children from disclosing abuse. She also stressed the ongoing need for prevention, awareness, and better training for teachers and childcare professionals, who often struggle to identify behavioral signs of distress.

Teachers' unions have also expressed a mix of support and concern. Jean-Rémi Girard, president of the National Union of Lycées and Collèges, schools and higher education (SNALC), stated that the vast majority of teachers support the initiative as a way to gather information and pass it to the justice system, even if they cannot perform the work of the justice system themselves.

Béatrice Laurent, secretary of the education union UNSA Éducation, highlighted a dilemma regarding the format and resources. While supportive of enabling children to report violence, she questioned whether a written questionnaire is the appropriate format and expressed concern over whether the education system has sufficient staff to process the resulting reports effectively.

The French education ministry did not respond to questions regarding the specific details of the questionnaire or how the justice system would intervene if the results prove "seismic." The ministry stated that preparation of the questionnaire is currently underway and providing precise details is premature.