Several independent UN experts called on France on Friday to take “immediate action” to protect children from incest and all forms of sexual violence, and to end “discriminatory treatment” against mothers who denounce these facts, reports AFP.

The experts – two special rapporteurs and five experts from the Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls – call on the French authorities to “address the discriminatory treatment and violence suffered by mothers trying to protect their children from sexual predators”.

“Despite credible allegations of sexual and incestuous violence against children by their parents, France ignored the precautionary principle and the best interests of the child and allowed the abuse of their mothers,” said experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council. charge, but I do not speak on behalf of the organization itself.

Experts cite three cases of mothers being prosecuted for taking children away from fathers accused of sexual, physical and psychological violence. These cases were detailed in a letter sent by experts to French authorities on July 27, 2023.

But “despite these allegations and in the absence of a proper investigation, these children are placed in the care of the parents who are charged, and the mothers are punished for child abduction for trying to protect their children,” they said. , adding that these “children remain in the custody of the alleged criminals.”

They called on the authorities to respect the “precautionary principle” and the “principle of due diligence” in protecting children, especially during legal proceedings, to ensure a preventive approach.

The child’s opinion must be sought and respected, and the child’s best interests must be the primary consideration before making custody decisions in favor of one parent, experts stress.