“We deplore, once again, the absence of a Ministry of Children, or even of a delegated minister specifically responsible for these issues.” On the evening of the appointment of the new government, Unicef issued a press release to express its disappointment, like other associations and unions. An absence which is not really a surprise for many personalities that 20 Minutes interviewed, and which is all the more alarming as the sector is facing an unprecedented crisis, with burning issues.
“It no longer surprises me, we are so used to there being nothing when it comes to childhood,” laments Laurent Boyet, founding president of the Les Papillons association. “The Ministry of Children always catches up. Emmanuel Macron has still not understood that there was an important sector in the mobilizations,” adds Senator Laurence Rossignol. In 2017, several voices were raised to denounce the absence of a ministry dedicated to children. The function was finally partially restored in 2019 but in the form of a simple state secretariat, from 2019 to 2022. The previous minister in charge of these subjects, Agnès Canayer, had inherited a ministry in charge of Family and of Early Childhood, therefore leaving a whole section of childhood aside.
However, there is no shortage of hot issues and the period is particularly difficult for children, points out Lyes Louffok, activist for children’s rights and candidate of the New Popular Front in the partial legislative election for the 1st constituency of Isère. “This is the most serious childhood crisis in several areas,” says MP Isabelle Santiago, rapporteur for the commission of inquiry into child protection. Here are the points considered priorities by our seven interlocutors.
Reforming child protection
This is by far the number one priority for almost all the child life specialists we interviewed. The problems within child protection are well known. A report from the Magistrates’ Union published in May 2024 points to a “system that is cracking”. The failures are such that a commission of inquiry was created in the National Assembly in June 2024. In October of the same year, an opinion from the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese) estimated that the protection of childhood was “in danger”. Child suicides or accidents, episodes of violence are commonplace and have been the subject of numerous press articles in recent years, including the last one, from Mediaparttells the story of Paco, attacked in his home. “We are the first country in Europe to place children, and behind that there are not enough staff to take care of them,” criticizes Isabelle Santiago.
Several personalities, including Lyes Louffok, are calling for removing childhood competence from the departments and giving it back to the State. “Children do not have the same opportunities depending on the departments where they live,” points out Laurent Boyer. “I am not sure that a state service works better, when that was the case, it did not work better, and adding to the institutional crisis would not make it possible to resolve the problem quickly,” said Agnès Canayer, minister. outgoing.
Too many children on the street
Observers in the sector also point out the situation of the many children who sleep in the street. There were more than 2,000 of them, according to the latest figures from Unicef France and the Federation of Solidarity Actors (FAS), on the night of August 19 to 20. The situation has apparently improved since the release of 250 million for emergency accommodation in November, says the Utopia 56 association. But many people remain in critical situations.
“We need to increase the capacity of the accommodation and adapt the centers to families. And better identify the public of families on the street by reaching out to them. This was initiated with the Solidarity Pact but all of this is unstable,” judges Corentin Bailleul, advocacy manager for Unicef France.
A critical lack of child psychiatrists
The number of children and young people in distress situations has increased dramatically since the Covid health crisis, with an increase in visits to emergency rooms for suicidal gestures, an increase in depression and the number of children identified as having a psychiatric illness. However, at the same time, the number of child psychiatrists has collapsed. There are barely more than 2,000 child psychiatrists in France, according to the Court of Auditors.
A priority for Maryse Le Men Régnier, administrator of France Victimes and co-president of Ciivise, the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children, but also for more than half of the people who 20 Minutes interviewed. “More than a million children and adolescents suffer from psychiatric disorders and half are not treated. We are calling for a real national strategy for children’s health. If we cannot increase the number of child psychiatrists quickly, we can increase the reimbursement of caregivers, or the My psych support package (which allows reimbursement for up to 11 sessions with the psychologist)” argues Corentin Bailleul.
All these subjects are urgent, not to mention the degradation of the education system, for which “children pay dearly”, notes Laurence Rossignol; the quality of reception in nurseries, highlighted by several books in recent years; the decline of school medicine; the exposure of children to pornography which makes the sexuality and emotional life education program “absolutely necessary”, note several specialists; the detection of sexual violence or even support for disabled children… In short, there is no shortage of topics.
But without a dedicated ministry, it will be more difficult to carry children’s voices, worries Corentin Bailleul, advocacy manager at Unicef France: “The absence of a minister dedicated to children compromises the place given to children. When we have a mega ministry like that of Minister Catherine Vautrin, if we are not supported by a delegate minister, these are subjects that remain aside. » Maryse Le Men Régnier for her part wants to see the positive aspect of things: “It was Catherine Vautrin who installed the Ciivise (version number 2, after the arrival of judge Edouard Durand) and she had clearly indicated that it was of great importance to be effective against this scourge of incest. We have always worked well with her. We are confident. »