France’s justice minister has rejected calls to resign following public outrage over judicial failures linked to the killing of an 11-year-old girl. The case has renewed scrutiny of how sexual abuse allegations are handled across the country. According to the independent commission CIIVISE, only 7% of reported sexual assaults against minors lead to a conviction.

François Picard is pleased to welcome Solène Podevin-Favre, president of the "Face à l'inceste" advocacy and support group and former co-director of the Ciivise, an independent commission set up in 2021 to come up with proposals to fight sexual abuse of children in France. According to Podevin-Favre, the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna is not an isolated tragedy. It is a "systemic failure" that has been repeatedly identified, documented and reported for years.