Child Protection Issues in France

Today, on International Children’s Day, it is important to discuss the current issues related to child protection in European society. A recent film that won an award at the Cannes Film Festival illustrates the difficulties families face when social services remove children.
When a child is truly in danger, state intervention is necessary. However, social services often make decisions without a complete investigation, which can have irreversible consequences. Parents spend months or years trying to regain custody of their children, and for the child, this results in a lost childhood and psychological trauma.
If the state removes a child for their safety, it must ensure that safety. Unfortunately, in social institutions and foster families, children often become victims of violence and abuse. In France, scandals related to violence in schools are being discussed, where information about abuses had been reported long before they were revealed.
The problem lies not only in the timely removal of a child from a dangerous environment but also in ensuring that the state fulfills its protective function rather than merely controlling families. It is crucial that all decisions regarding children serve their best interests and ensure their protection, rather than causing new traumas.