"Schoolyard Sexual Assaults": Examination of Sexual Violence Incidents Among Minors in Educational Institutions
Article:
In her new book Tableau noir. Sexual violence between children: A massive, overlooked phenomenon within school institutions (Stock, 336 pages, 21.50 euros), journalist Aude Lorriaux, of 20 Minutes, reveals the unsettling reality of sexual abuse between children within the French education system. The revelations come at a time when a wave of accusations, reminiscent of the #MeToo movement, has surfaced in schools, following the Notre-Dame-de-Betharram scandal.
Gathering testimonies from victims, their parents, and experts, Lorriaux sheds light on the alarming numbers of minors accused of sexual offenses. Between 2019 and 2020, more than 23,000 such cases were reported. Beyond these legally recognized instances, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in November 2023 found that 16% of students experienced unconsented touching or kissing by fellow students.
The journalist points towards societal hypersexualization and early exposure to pornography as contributing factors to the rise of such incidents. Parents, often left feeling powerless, misunderstood, or ignored, face their children's trauma head-on. One mother recounts her distress when her school principal dismissed her concerns as "just children's games."
The education system, according to Lorriaux, falls short in addressing this issue adequately. Lack of teacher training on sensitive subjects, gaps in coordination with after-school activities, shortage of school nurses, and national education psychologists hamper meaningful action. Toilets, inherited as battlefields for diverse forms of violence for generations of students, remain a persistent issue.
Partial findings from the book are available to subscribers, indicating that one in four girls and one in twenty boys experience some form of sexual abuse, often perpetrated by someone they know. The majority of such abuse occurs within trusted environments, including schools. The overall increase in reported cases can be attributed to improved detection, enhanced awareness, and better reporting mechanisms.
- It's crucial for education-and-self-development programs to incorporate comprehensive sexual-health education, considering the rising issue of sexual abuse among minors, as highlighted in Aude Lorriaux's book, Tableau noir.
- The importance of mental-health support within the education system becomes evident when parents, like the one who recounted her distress over her concerns being dismissed, are left struggling to help their children cope with the trauma of such incidents.
- In light of the increasing reports of sexual abuse in schools, it's essential for the education system to address its shortcomings, such as inadequate teacher training, lack of coordination with after-school activities, and shortage of school nurses and national education psychologists, to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.
