French PM announces initial measures to combat child abuse amid Lyhanna uproar

Lecornu held a 90-minute meeting with several ministers at Matignon Palace on Tuesday morning to discuss child protection and sexual violence, in the wake of a case that has shocked the country.

He proposed increasing penalties for serial rapists, who could face life imprisonment instead of the current 20 years.

Regarding crimes against children, Lecornu proposed that investigative actions be carried out "within a maximum of three months."

This measure is a response to what is seen as inaction of the justice system regarding the main suspect in Lyhanna's death, Jérôme B., who, prior to this tragedy, had been the subject of several complaints and reports.

Further proposals include modifying the statute of limitations, informing victims throughout the legal process, and requiring justification for decisions to dismiss sexual crimes and offenses.

Other measures are being finalised and all will be incorporated into the draft law on child protection, already presented to the Council of Ministers late last month and which will be examined by Parliament in July.

Overwhelming failings

"The justice system hasn't done its job, I don't understand why we have to wait so long," the mother of 10-year-old Rosa, who accuses Jérôme B. of rape, said speaking from Toulouse.

She had filed a complaint in August 2025, which did not result in the suspect being summoned and was not followed by sufficiently swift investigative actions.

Many months passed between this report and the abduction of Lyhanna in Fleurance on 29 May.

The pressure has been mounting on the government, with demonstrations held in several French cities. A silent march in tribute to Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl found dead on 4 June after having been reported missing since 29 May, in Fleurance, southwestern France.

More than 60,000 people demonstrated on Monday evening against the failings in the case, and lawsuits are expected over the inaction of the public authorities.

Rosa's mother's lawyer on Tuesday announced his intention to sue the State for "gross negligence" and to bring the case against the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, before the Court of Justice of the Republic.

Although he quickly acknowledged "overwhelming failings," Darmanin has ruled out resigning.

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On Monday, he ordered that the 70,000 complaints currently pending in the courts involving children be reviewed by 14 July.

He was auditioned by the Senate on Tuesday morning along with his colleague, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who defended the way police and gendarmes handled cases of sexual violence against minors.

In a letter to his ministers made public Monday evening, Lecornu emphasised his "horror" but also "a lack of understanding regarding the circumstances" of Lyhanna's death.

Distinguishing priorities

The judicial system is "not sufficiently on the side of victims," ​​Aurore Bergé, the Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, told France 2 television.

Meanwhile, the High Council of the Judiciary has deplored the "discrediting of thousands of judges," responding to criticism of the handling of the case and its "exploitation."

Several prosecutors described to French news agency AFP a judicial system under extreme strain, buckling under the accumulation of cases where distinguishing "a super-priority among priorities" becomes difficult.

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In 2025 and 2026, prosecutors received dozens of government directives concerning drug trafficking, domestic violence, attacks on elected officials or the environment.

Franck Rastoul, the public prosecutor in Aix-en-Provence in southern France says there are 3.6 million cases being processed nationwide but no new resources have been created.

"We will have to prioritise these cases even more, even if it obviously means processing others at a reduced pace," he says.

The Lyhanna case has also become a topic in the 2027 presidential campaign, with potential and declared candidates divided on how to respond, such as the resources allocated to the justice system, the accountability of judges, and possible legislation to better protect victims.

Lecornu has promised that funding for combating gender-based and sexual violence "will be maintained" in the 2027 budget and said he will meet with MPs who support a comprehensive text on sexist and sexual violence "at the end of the week".

(with AFP)