Betharram: Ecologists propose "an emergency plan" for child protection

Creating a Ministry for Children, strengthening control of educational establishments, extending the control of criminal records to all professionals working with minors: the Ecologists presented an emergency plan for the protection of children on Tuesday, May 13, on the eve of François Bayrou's hearing on Bétharram .

"It is time for the Prime Minister to come out of denial," declared Cyrielle Chatelain, president of the Green Party deputies, during a press conference, as François Bayrou is due to appear before the commission of inquiry on Wednesday into the modalities of state control and the prevention of violence in schools, created in February in the wake of the Notre-Dame de Bétharram affair.

"It is corroborated by several testimonies that he was aware" of this violence, "he must admit his lies, apologize and draw conclusions from them," she insisted, asking: "can you be Prime Minister when you have lied to the National Assembly?"

But beyond the affair, "it's an entire society that is in denial. We are failing to protect our children," added the MP, while the leader of the Green senators, Guillaume Gontard, deplored "the drift we see taking hold" among certain political leaders, who view childhood through the prism of "delinquency."

"We don't want Bayrou to be the tree that hides the forest of child protection," added the party's national secretary, Marine Tondelier.

Highlighting the failings of Child Welfare (ASE), the Greens are calling for reforms to child protection policy, a re-engagement of the State alongside the departments (in charge of ASE), but also the creation of a "Ministry of Children", which would encompass national education and family policy.

In total, they propose around fifteen measures, such as extending social protection to 18-25 year-olds (access to RSA, autonomy allowance, etc.), extending systematic checks on criminal records to all professionals in contact with children, particularly in the cultural, sports and community sectors, or creating 7,500 school nurse positions.

Green MPs will also submit a bill on the failure of school inspections, MP Arnaud Bonnet said, adding that other cross-party texts were in preparation.

A delegation of elected officials is due to meet with Education Minister Élisabeth Borne this afternoon to demand stronger controls on private establishments under contract and to denounce the deteriorating working conditions and the vocations crisis.