Khaberni - The French newspaper "Le Monde" reported the arrest of 3 men including two educational supervisors, on suspicion of involvement in sexual assaults affecting several children in schools in Paris.
The case, which has recently erupted, has brought the issue of child safety within educational institutions back to the forefront, causing a wave of concern and outrage among families.
According to the French newspaper, the suspects were arrested over the past two weeks, following suspicions of them committing assaults on 12 children aged between 3 and 9 years, within 3 different schools in Paris.
The incidents are related to a school in the fifteenth district, where 9 children aged between 6 and 9 years were assaulted by one of the supervisors.
Two cases were also recorded in a kindergarten in the twentieth district, affecting two children aged 3 and 4 years, and it is suspected that a teacher's husband is responsible for them.
In the tenth district, a 5-year-old girl was assaulted by another supervisor.
In the same institution in the tenth district, a teacher was also detained and placed under precautionary detention on suspicion of involvement in assaults on 6 children aged between 3 and 4 years, but he has not yet been referred to the judiciary.
The investigations in these cases have been assigned to the juvenile protection unit of the judicial police in Paris, which is the competent authority for such sensitive crimes.
A wall of silence
The newspaper pointed out that the school extracurricular sector has been witnessing for months a series of reports related to violence and sexual assaults, especially in Paris, revealing imbalances in employment mechanisms and handling of complaints.
Following these developments, the Paris municipality announced in November last year a plan to combat sexual violence against children in schools, including enhancing the training of supervisors and improving oversight mechanisms.
The newspaper clarified that many families considered these measures insufficient, expressing their helplessness, and even accused the authorities of having a "wall of silence" whether at the political or judicial level.
In an attempt to address the increasing number of these cases, the Paris municipality launched an awareness guide to help parents detect warning signs that may indicate children are subjected to violence.
Among these indicators: sudden mood changes, sleep disturbances, changes in eating habits, frequent physical complaints, regressive behaviors such as bedwetting, or severe and sudden refusal to go to school, in addition to behaviors with a sexual nature inappropriate for the child’s age.
Calls for comprehensive reform
Meanwhile, the "SOS Périscolar" group, which collects testimonies about violence and maltreatment in this sector, expressed satisfaction after a meeting with officials at the Élysée Palace.
They called for a "comprehensive restructuring of the profession", through tightening employment standards, enhancing oversight, and imposing strict penalties on violators.
They also demanded the creation of an independent committee to evaluate the status of the school activities sector, similar to the National Independent Committee for Victims of Sexual Violence Against Children, with the aim of defining a clear vision for necessary reforms.
An escalating crisis of trust
This case reveals an increasing crisis of trust between families and educational institutions in France, where the safety of children has become a central topic in public debate.
While investigations continue, the public demands decisive measures that ensure the protection of children and put an end to any leniency in confronting these serious crimes.
