Several members of the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (Ciivise) announced, Thursday, December 14, their resignation in protest, a few days after the announcement of the replacement of judge Edouard Durand by the former -rugbyman Sébastien Boueilh.
“We deplore that the two co-presidents [le juge des enfants Edouard Durand et Nathalie Mathieu] have not been previously informed either of the maintenance of the Civil Service or of the appointment [à sa tête] of Sébastien Boueilh, and therefore the eviction of Edouard Durand »write the resigning members in a press release, signed by eleven people Thursday evening. “We denounce this silence in response to our requests” And “even more so in view of our mission which aimed to “break the silence””they add.
The members of the Ciivise had asked by mail, on November 10, to Charlotte Caubel “the maintenance of the Ciivise with Edouard Durand” at its head, they recall. “No response was given to us. It was through the press that we learned of the continuation of the commission on November 19”regret the signatories, including the psychiatrists Muriel Salmona and Karen Sadlier, the founders of the victims’ association Arnaud Gallais and Laurent Boyet, or even Eva Thomas, one of the first people to have publicly testified to the incest of which she was victim (in “Les Dossiers de l’screen” in 1986).
“A lid on the liberation of speech”
Mme Matthew “made it clear from the start that she did not want to renew her mandate”, specify the resigners. But “like us, she explicitly supported the maintenance of Edouard Durand”they write. “We have the impression that we are trying to put a lid on the freedom of speech that the Civic has brought about”deplored Mr. Boyet to Agence France-Presse. “We fear that this marks a weakening of the fight against incest, which is no longer at the heart of the Civic roadmap”added for his part Mme Salmona.
Appointed vice-president of the Ciivise on Monday, Caroline Rey-Salmon, pediatrician and legal expert, “opposed a key recommendation of the Ciivise: making reporting by doctors compulsory”worries Mme Salmona.
Mme Caubel announced Monday the appointment as head of the Ciivise of ex-rugby player Sébastien Boueilh, founder of the Colosse aux pieds d’église association, which fights against sexual violence in the sporting environment.
The associations pleaded in favor of retaining judge Edouard Durand, appreciated in particular for his independence and his outspokenness. His media aura and his repeated criticisms of the dysfunctions in the judicial treatment of sexual violence were annoying, according to observers.