Six months after the launch of the general investigation into allegations of sexual crimes occurring in the school network, victims and their loved ones are still awaiting feedback from the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville.
“Since Minister Drainville expressed concern about sexual violence in a press conference, nothing has been done. We are still waiting,” said Theryanne, a CEGEP student and member of the youth collective La Voix des Jeunes Compte, during a press conference on Sunday.
Victims, parents and members of school staff have been calling for several years for a framework law to combat and prevent sexual violence in primary and secondary education establishments.
“You should know that the majority of my friends have been victims of sexual violence and have never been supported or listened to. We told them to wait, that there was a waiting list,” added Theryanne, addressing Minister Drainville. “How can we trust our institutions if no one hears our voices and protects us? »
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
The Youth Voices Count collective
“Several worrying findings”
In March, the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, announced the launch of a “general investigation” into the multiple allegations of sexual crimes that had occurred in the school network in recent months.
The report, made public in September, highlighted “disturbing findings” on the complaint processing processes, the administrative management of problematic behavior and the hiring processes of the school service centers concerned.
“The investigation report makes several worrying findings, and I have the firm intention of responding to them,” Minister Drainville declared at the time. He announced that he wanted to implement several recommendations, including improving data sharing between employers and improving the complaints handling process and the supervision of staff handling complaints.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Victims, parents and members of school staff have been calling for several years for a framework law to combat and prevent sexual violence in schools.
We do not understand how Minister Drainville was surprised by the situations set out in the report when everything that is there has already been mentioned for the last six years.
Kenza, member of the youth collective La Voix des Jeunes Compte
The collective denounces the lack of action by Minister Drainville following the publication of the report. “Launching investigations and then doing nothing is a waste of public funds in addition to actively contributing to endangering the lives of young people,” added Kenza.
“An urgency to act”
Liberal MP Marwah Rizqy, present at the press conference, reiterated the importance of obtaining a framework law, as already exists in CEGEPs and universities. “They received the report on sexual violence in schools in July. It seems to me that we are capable of legislating more promptly, more quickly. There is a need and urgency to act,” she said.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Liberal MP Marwah Rizqy
“We have a real problem in our school network, primary and secondary. There are flaws which mean that there are still too many victims,” declared former Parti Québécois MP Méganne Perry Mélançon. “We have a big project ahead of us and that takes resources. We do not feel that the means have yet been deployed. Legislative changes are always being dangled and we are still waiting for them. »
“We ask for this framework law every time we have the opportunity and we will not stop doing so until it is finally effective. Our children need to be protected and be in a safe environment,” declared the president of the Quebec parents’ committees (FCPQ), Mélanie Laviolette.