the National Assembly definitively adopts a bill to better protect children

Unanimously, the National Assembly definitively adopted, Thursday February 29, a socialist bill aimed at better preventing sexual violence against minors in sports clubs. The deputies voted without change for this text from the Senate, where it was unanimous in mid-June.

This law makes the background checks of sports instructors annual, via consultation of bulletin no. 2 of the criminal record, as well as the automated judicial file of perpetrators of sexual or violent offenses (FIJAIS). “This will make it possible in particular to declare incapacity” to exercise, underlined the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Marie Lebec. In addition, club presidents will have the obligation to report risky behavior by educators, or any person in contact with minors, to state services, under penalty of sanctions.

This text on “honorability in sport” was built by Senator Sébastien Pla, with former skating champion Sarah Abitbol. She caused an explosion in the sporting world with her revelations about the rapes perpetrated by her coach when she was a teenager. During a press point at the Assembly, Sarah Abitbol welcomed “political unanimity” in favor of the text. “We’re not going to give up.” For “save the new generation”she said. “Profound changes must be made in the world of sport”insisted the socialist deputy Claudia Rouaux, rapporteur of the bill, in “paying homage” to the victims.