French Parliamentary Commission Hears Victims of School Abuse in Landmark Inquiry

The Bétharram case has prompted a sweeping investigation into systemic abuse in schools and failures in state oversight, with victims calling for urgent reforms.

• Representatives from eight victim collectives shared harrowing testimonies of abuse in private schools during the first public hearings of the parliamentary commission.
• The commission aims to uncover systemic failures in state oversight and propose measures to prevent future abuses in both private and public schools.
• Victims have urged the creation of a national office to conduct unannounced inspections in schools and simplify abuse reporting mechanisms.
• Initial findings reveal widespread gaps in historical records and inconsistent reporting procedures, described as poorly coordinated and ineffective.
• The commission will continue to hear from state officials, religious institutions, and political leaders, including Prime Minister François Bayrou, before delivering its final report in June 2025.

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