“Océane, Julie, Marina, Aloïs, Elsa, …”, the public prosecutor of Troyes Julie Bernier lists with a touch of emotion the first names of child victims who have followed one another recently in the criminal court or during assizes in Dawn. “I could see in their eyes all their relief and their recognition of the justice of what they experienced when a guilty decision was rendered.”
Speaking out is an act of courage in his eyes. She is the one who launched the development of this Pediatric Reception Unit for Children in Danger two years ago at the heart of the Troyes hospital center. Collective work between child protection actors, the State, associations, local authorities, law enforcement and other health professionals “It must be the place where silence is broken and speech is confiscated by guilt is released.”
A filmed hearing followed by medical and psychological examinations
This service was installed on the ground floor of the Mother and Children building. It was designed according to the recommendations of the La Voix De l’Enfant association, originally the first reception unit in 1999 in Béziers. “The model is created around the prosecutor and the pediatric service,” indicates president Martine Brousse. The child who discloses violence is an injured child and therefore has his or her place in this service. The pediatrician and child psychiatrist will then work with trained investigators and magistrates.”
The idea is to take care, in a single place, of children who are victims of psychological, physical or sexual abuse. “As soon as a report is sent to us to the public prosecutor’s office, we now request, when justified, the activation of the UAPED,” indicates the prosecutor. These young victims only stay on average for half a day, with an interview filmed and recorded by investigators, so as to avoid making the child repeat what he or she experienced. “This hearing is then followed by medical and psychological examinations.”
Already eight seizures in less than a month
On site, the Victim Support, Criminal Mediation and Social Reintegration Association is responsible for supporting young victims and their families with the various stakeholders: police, gendarmerie, doctors and psychologists. “Since opening on March 28, we have already had 8 seizures, which is a lot,” notes Anne OSSUS, president of Avim-RS 10. Children aged just 1 year old to 16 years old have already been welcomed. “For extreme violence, rape, incest, touching, but also violence from fathers or stepfathers,” she relates.
The place is deliberately intended to be calming and protective, including the “Mélanie room”, the room where children are interviewed by police officers and gendarmes. “It is refined, with a transparent table to allow the child’s gestures to be seen, so that their attention is not caught up in decorative details. The investigator is there and there is another investigator in a recording room, which the child does not see because there is a mirror without color,” explains prosecutor Julie Bernier.
Sometimes, young victims are picked up directly from school and immediately taken care of at UAPED. Warrant Officer Pascal remembers a disabled dysphasic child (who did not speak), who stayed with his school carer. “We only bothered him once. As soon as he arrived here, he went to see the doctor. It was complicated because he didn’t talk much, but we managed to materialize the offense through writing.” The examination is intended to be very thorough after having relaxed the youngest patients. “We collect elements that seem suspicious to us at our medical level,” underlines Doctor Alain Hugerot. “You really have to take your time to gain confidence in the child, to talk with him, and spontaneously, he comes up with a lot of things.”
Objective 169 pediatric reception units for children in danger by 2027 in France
UAPED is not completely the miracle solution, the support time sometimes remains relatively long depending on the business. “We must always adapt to the victim, to their character, to their environment, to the offense, without forgetting the challenges of providing all our support to the victim,” recalls Didier Gentilhomme, police major in the family protection group. . “It’s a test for the victim to speak,” confirms Commissioner Alexandre Constantin, head of the investigation service at the Troyes police station. “If we can prevent her from talking several times about what she suffered, it is a way of protecting her too, even if the hospital setting is not easy either.”
These Units should continue their development across France. “The government’s commitment is to support this deployment in all jurisdictions. Today we are halfway there. By 2027, we need 169,” declares Sarah El Haïry, Minister Delegate for Children, Youth and Families. “We will continue,” continues Brigitte Macron, president of the Hospital Foundation. “We are carrying out Operation Yellow Pieces, everything is about the physical and mental health of children. There are more and more needs. I have a fantastic sponsor, Didier Deschamps, and more and more people who are getting involved,” concludes the 1st Lady. With the coach of the football blues, things can only go well.
