President Emmanuel Macron said in a series of tweets on Saturday that France will tighten its law on incest, after the publication of a book accusing a top French political commentator of abusing his stepson sparked outrage across the country.
Mr. Macron said on his Twitter account that France needs to adapt its laws to better protect children from sexual violence and he had asked the justice minister to chair a consultation aimed at quickly making legislative proposals.
He also gave a statement “We will go after the aggressors”
Macron further added,” These testimonies, these words, these cries, no one can ignore them anymore against sexual violence against our children.” He also shared a video message on his Twitter account.
On January 23, French senators also introduced measures for harsher punishment and prison for nonreporting of the crime against children. The country’s government will reportedly introduce sessions about incest in primary and secondary schools.
The French government even increased the statute of limitations on incest to 30 years which would be counted from the legal age of the majority of the victims.
He said that as part of current routine medical examinations for children, France would introduce sessions about incest in primary and secondary schools in order to give children a chance to talk about the issue. This will help children to talk about the issue without any fear.
Book written on Incest by Olivier Duhamel
In recent weeks, hundreds of people have taken to social media to tell their stories of incest after the publication of the book accusing French professor and constitutional specialist Olivier Duhamel of abusing his stepson.
He also said that better psychological help for victims of incest would be made available and it would be reimbursed by social security.
The French President even asked the justice minister to preside over consultation with an aim to make legislative proposals.
Duhamel resigned earlier this month from his post overseeing Sciences Po, one of France’s top universities, following the publication of the book.
“Being the object of personal attacks and wanting to preserve the institutions in which I work, I put an end to my functions,” he said on Twitter on Jan. 4.
The book was written by Duhamel’s stepdaughter Camille Kouchner, daughter of former foreign minister and founder of NGO Médecins Sans Frontières Bernard Kouchner.
Higher Education Minister Frederique Vidal has ordered an inspection at Sciences Po to determine responsibilities and potential failings.
Neither Mr. Duhamel nor his lawyer has commented on the accusations dating back to the 1980s.
