Minister Sarah El Haïry wants to develop digital raids

The agents of these digital raids will go “on chats to talk, to alert” young people, explains the Minister Delegate in charge of Children, Youth and Families.

“A child victim of prostitution is a child to be protected”, repeats Sunday March 10 on franceinfo Sarah El Haïry, Minister Delegate in charge of Children, Youth and Families. To fight against the prostitution of minors, it wants to launch new calls for projects to develop and strengthen digital raids. They were deployed as part of the plan to combat minor prostitution launched in 2021, with a budget of “14 million euros”recalls Sarah El Haïry on franceinfo this Sunday.

“It’s often on the Internet that it starts for the youngest” explains the minister. The objective is therefore to “multiply connections with young girls and boys” to tell them “be careful what you do, watch out for online predators”, details the Minister Delegate in charge of Children, Families and Youth. As with classic street raids, the agents of these digital raids will go “on chats to talk, alert” young people. For example, they can “remember that selling a naked video is serious”details Sarah El Haïry. “It’s 7 years in prison and a fine of 100,000 euros for any adult who pushes a minor to send videos or photos of themselves on digital networks”she adds.

All social circles are concerned

If “the figures are not entirely correct because in fact, it is hidden”, estimates Sarah El Haïry. His ministry assesses that currently in France, “between 7,000 and 10,000 children are victims of prostitution”. These are “mostly girls between 15 and 17 years old, but today, it’s younger and younger, 12, 13 years old or even younger”deplores the minister. “All social backgrounds, all territories, all sexual orientations” are concerned.

Sarah El Haïry warns parents, because “prostitution, via these new websites, can enter any home”. According to her, the trade in one’s body even through images, “it’s prostitution” because “It starts with sending a more or less naked photo, then finally a video in exchange for money. Little by little, we find ourselves having discussions in private, until unfortunately prostitution with sexual relations “she adds.

The Minister Delegate for Children, Youth and Families also warns of “a new risk that is developing”that of “boyfriend who becomes a pimp, in a controlling relationship”. For Sarah El Haïry, “we must break the taboo of prostitution”. She calls back the number “Hello childhood in danger”, 119. “You have to call if you have the slightest doubt. There are professionals behind who are capable of supporting families and young people”she insists.