\Voices Rise for Children: France’s Call for Safer Laws\

The story began when 11‑year‑old Lyhanna vanished and was later found dead in late May. Her case shocked the nation and sparked a new, grassroots campaign that has drawn support from many well‑known French actors and actresses. The suspect, Jérôme Barella, had a long history of legal complaints that never led to questions or charges. Authorities knew about his relationships with minors in 2017, a rape complaint involving a minor that was closed in 2022, and another alleged rape case in August 2025. None of these incidents resulted in an investigation. The failure to act has pushed families, feminist groups and public figures to demand stronger laws that protect women and children. This movement follows the high‑profile Gisèle Pelicot case, which forced France to confront sexual violence on a national level. At the same time, Paris is dealing with its own crisis: more than 100 schools and nurseries are under investigation for physical and sexual abuse by non‑teaching staff. The city has suspended 78 school monitors, many suspected of sexual abuse, and is scrutinising the roughly 15, 000 child‑care workers who supervise children outside class.Protests have grown on successive Mondays. On June 8, about 60, 000 people gathered across France at 216 sites; in Paris, over a thousand marched despite a ban, moving from Place Vendôme to the Court of Appeal. A week later, on June 15, more than a thousand demonstrators—about two‑thirds women—met outside the Ministry of Justice, with additional crowds in Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lille. Organisers plan to return every Monday and a larger Paris march on July 4. Key figures in the demonstrations include Andrea Bescond, Anna Mouglalis, Sabrina Van Tassel, Judith Godrèche, Charlotte Le Bon and Celine Salette. On social media, Juliette Binoche, Philippine Leroy‑Beaulieu and Alex Lutz used hashtags #JeSuisLyhanna and #JeSuisAuTribunal. Binoche posted a childhood photo beside Lyhanna’s picture, calling for officials to acknowledge that France is failing its girls and demanding accountability. Bescond, known for her film “Little Tickles, ” has spoken out against the Justice Minister’s call for life sentences for child sex offenders. She argued that such measures do not reduce assaults and called for a paradigm shift instead of reactionary punishment. The proposed “loi intégrale” would create a single, comprehensive law addressing gender‑based and sexual violence. It includes reforms to the justice system, specialised courts, mandatory training for police and judges, priority handling of minor complaints, early prevention education, stronger protection for child victims, psychological care and actions against cyber‑violence.