On April 8, 2025, a parliamentary inquiry report on the shortcomings of child protection policies in France was released, highlighting a system in crisis. The report, presented by Socialist MP Isabelle Santiago, comes after a year of investigations spurred by the tragic suicide of a 15-year-old girl named Lily in January 2024. This incident raised alarms about the failures within the Aide sociale à l’enfance (ASE), a system designed to protect vulnerable children.
According to Santiago, the ASE is plagued by severe deficiencies, with laws and decrees established over the years failing to be implemented effectively. "Laws like Rossignol 2016 and Taquet 2022 are not applied," she asserted, emphasizing the dire need for reform. The 1974 decree mandates one adult for every six children during the day and one for every 30 at night, but current ratios are alarmingly worse—eight children per adult during the day and 60 at night.
Statistics reveal that nearly 3,400 children are currently awaiting placement, according to the Syndicat national de la magistrature. The report documents a series of harrowing incidents, including the case of an ASE employee in Tarn-et-Garonne who identified young girls to be handed over to her pimp. In another instance, a baby died while placed with a father previously deemed dangerous. These cases underscore the systemic failures that have led to children being placed in unsafe environments.
As the report was unveiled, the journalist Claude Ardid announced the release of his book, La Fabrique du malheur, which chronicles the dysfunctions within the ASE based on an 18-month investigation. He remarked, "There isn’t a month that goes by without a sordid tragedy connected to the ASE. This is a national scandal that needs urgent attention!"
In response to the report, Minister for Families Catherine Vautrin acknowledged the pressing issues but also pointed out the budgetary constraints facing the government. "We are in a difficult financial situation," she stated, noting that only 3% of the funding for child protection comes from the state, with the bulk of responsibility falling on local departments.
The report highlights a significant increase in the number of children under ASE’s care, which has risen to approximately 380,000 in 2022, a staggering 18% increase since 2011. This surge has put immense pressure on a system that is already struggling with staffing shortages, as the number of personnel has been on a steady decline over the last decade.
"We have a situation where nurseries are operating at 108% capacity, and over 82% of these facilities exceed the regulatory limit of six cribs per room," Santiago noted. The commission found evidence of children being transported alone in taxis for appointments due to a lack of staff, a situation that raises serious concerns about their safety and well-being.
The inquiry also revealed alarming disparities in funding and care quality across different regions. For instance, while Corsica spends an average of 49 euros per inhabitant on child protection, Seine-Saint-Denis allocates 214 euros. Such financial inequities lead to varying levels of care, with some children receiving significantly less support than others.
Furthermore, the inquiry found that a substantial number of children in the ASE—estimated at around 15,000—are involved in prostitution, often recruited from within the very institutions meant to protect them. In certain regions, up to 75% of minors involved in prostitution were reported to be housed in ASE facilities. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the system.
In light of these findings, the parliamentary commission has proposed 92 recommendations aimed at overhauling the child protection system. These include improving early detection of dysfunctional families, enhancing the attractiveness of careers in child protection, and increasing the frequency of inspections for facilities housing these vulnerable children.
Vautrin has indicated that the government is considering these recommendations, but she has also cautioned about the financial realities that will complicate implementation. "We must develop a strategy that includes all stakeholders, including businesses and associations, to ensure that these children receive the support they need," she emphasized.
The report's findings have sparked outrage among child protection advocates, who argue that the current system is failing its most vulnerable citizens. "This is a collective responsibility that we must all take seriously," Santiago concluded, calling for immediate action.
As the report has been made public, the pressure is mounting on the French government to take decisive steps to address the crisis within the ASE. With calls for urgent reforms echoing from all corners, the future of child protection in France hangs in the balance.
