France fails to protect Lyhanna, 90% of child abuse cases unpunished

A leaked letter from French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin to Interior Minister Gérald Larcher reveals systemic failures in how police and courts handle child sexual abuse cases, following the murder of a young girl, Lyhanna, by a known offender. The letter, obtained by France 24, details how authorities missed multiple warning signs despite prior reports of abuse. It comes amid public fury over the case, which has reignited long-standing criticism of France’s child protection systems.

Lyhanna, five years old, was killed in February in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois. Her killer, a 39-year-old man with a prior conviction for sexual offenses against minors, had been under judicial supervision but was not properly monitored. The case exposed gaps in coordination between police, social services, and courts. Activists say France has a poor track record in protecting children, with high-profile failures in recent years, including the 2022 murder of an 11-year-old girl, Mia, by a man under electronic surveillance. The Darmanin letter demands an urgent review of how such offenders are managed, including better data sharing and stricter enforcement of supervision orders.

The scandal has forced President Emmanuel Macron to acknowledge a “crisis of confidence” in France’s justice system. Data shows that France has one of the lowest rates of convictions for child sexual abuse in Europe, with only about 10% of reported cases leading to a trial. A 2022 government report found that half of child abuse cases are closed without investigation due to procedural errors. Darmanin’s letter calls for mandatory training for police and judges on handling abuse cases, as well as faster processing of complaints.

Critics argue the response is too late. A coalition of child rights groups, including La Fondation pour l’Enfance, is demanding an independent commission to audit the entire system. Meanwhile, the government is expected to announce new measures within weeks, including stricter penalties for offenders who breach supervision orders. For now, Lyhanna’s family has called for a national day of mourning, as outrage grows over how many times her killer slipped through the cracks.