The bill drafted after the Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram school scandal has passed its first hurdle in the National Assembly. On Tuesday, members of parliament adopted the text in committee, aiming to strengthen the prevention and reporting of violence in schools, ahead of its debate in the plenary session scheduled for June 1st.
Led by figures such as Paul Vannier and Violette Spillebout, the proposal aims to better protect children from physical, psychological, and sexual violence. The text also includes official recognition of state failures that allowed certain abuses to persist for years.
Enhanced controls and mandatory reporting
Among the main measures adopted are the strengthening of oversight of educational and extracurricular staff, with the introduction of a “certificate of good character” to be provided upon recruitment and then regularly throughout their career. The legislation also aims to improve the monitoring of disciplinary sanctions to prevent a professional involved in misconduct from changing institutions without any record of their past.
Members of Parliament also voted to extend certain provisions to the after-school sector, following several recent cases of sexual violence involving activity leaders. A national day of remembrance for the victims, set for November 19, was also approved.
Several provisions concerning private schools have drawn criticism from the right wing and the National Rally, notably the mandatory inspections every five years. The text also stipulates that religious ministers are required to report violence against minors, including when the abuse is revealed during confession.
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