It only lasted four days. In the aftermath of the “indentation” of his vice-president accused of sexual assault, it is the turn of the president of the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (Ciivise), Sébastien Boueilh, to throw in the towel, Thursday February 9, with “ [ses] deep regrets ».
“Since my appointment on December 11, 2023, I have been the target of slander and personal attacks, and the commission has been the subject of controversies which do not allow the serenity necessary to carry out its missions”, writes the 45-year-old man, victim of rape during his childhood, in a concise press release sent in the evening. The former rugby player, founder of the Colosse aux pieds d’église association, which works to prevent sexual violence in sports, also says he “concerned above all about the best interests of children, and particularly child victims of incest and sexual violence, wishing that the commission can continue its work in a favorable climate”.
Installed on Monday February 5 by the Minister of Solidarity, Catherine Vautrin, Ciivise 2 just had time to present its new team and its future directions to the press, before being overtaken by the scandal. The next day, a complaint for “sexual assault by a person abusing the authority given to them by their position” targeting its vice-president, the forensic doctor Caroline Rey-Salmon, was filed and publicized. The young woman who initiated it denounces the traumatic conditions of the gynecological examination carried out in 2020 at the medical-judicial unit where she was sent following a report of incest.
The sustainability of the instance in question
Questioned in the television program “Quotidien” about this affair, Sébastien Boueilh reacted Tuesday evening by providing his ” support “ to Caroline Rey-Salmon. “So much the better if the victim filed a complaint. I think Caroline will do it too and justice will decide,” he added. This aroused the emotion of certain victims and former and current members of the Ciivise, seeing in these remarks a questioning of the Commission’s mission of supporting and listening to victims. The next day, a press release from the Ciivise announced Mr.me Rey-Salmon “indent” the time of the investigation, in order to preserve “the serenity of the work” future.
Quite relative serenity however; After the important work of collecting testimonies and the recommendations made over three years by the first team, the government’s decision, at the end of November, to change its members and expand its missions, had caused great concern. Several voices were raised, in vain, to ask for the retention of judge Edouard Durand at the head of the body, whose strong commitment and bold recommendations particularly concerning the legal care of victims were unanimously welcomed.
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