Minor victim of sexual offense

Verified 20 May 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

If you are a minor and you have just been the victim of a sexual offense, we present you step by step the steps to be taken.

Sexual offenses punishable by law vary depending on the age at which you were victimized:

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You are under 15

The law protects you from all forms of sexual violence. In particular:

  • Sexual proposal: for an adult, making sexual proposals to you, including via the internet (social networks, messaging, online games, chat, etc.).
  • Corruption of a minor: for an adult, this is the act of imposing sexual remarks, images or behaviors on you. For example: showing you pornographic images, having sexual behavior in front of you, voluntarily exposing yourself to sexual scenes.
  • Sexual assault: this is a non-penetrative sexual act that is not consensual. These may include, for example, touching your private parts, a forced kiss, forced caresses, forcing you to touch another person's private parts. Consent must be free and clearly expressed. It cannot be inferred from your silence or lack of reaction. There is no need to prove violence or threat if you have not given your consent.
  • Rape: any act of sexual penetration that is not consensual. Penetration can be achieved with sex, fingers, mouth or an object.
  • Sexual relationship between an adult and you (if you are under 15): any sexual relationship between an adult and you is automatically classified as rape, even if you declare that you agree. The law considers that a person under the age of 15 cannot give valid consent to an adult.
  • Sextortion: This is to put pressure on you to send or broadcast images or videos of a sexual nature about you.
  • Use of prostitution of a minor: it is forbidden to pay or promise a benefit in exchange for a sexual act with you.

You are 15, 16 or 17 years old

The law protects you from all forms of sexual violence. In particular:

  • Sexual proposal: an adult makes sexual proposals to you, including via the internet (social networks, messaging, online games, chat, etc.).
  • Corruption of a minor: for an adult, it is the act of imposing sexual remarks, images or behaviors on you. For example: showing you pornographic images, having sexual behavior in front of you, inciting you to adopt degrading sexual behavior.
  • Sexual assault: this is a non-penetrative sexual act that is not consensual. These may include, for example, touching your private parts, a forced kiss, forced caresses, forcing you to touch another person's private parts. Consent must be free (i.e. given without pressure, threat or coercion), informed (i.e. given with an understanding of the situation and consequences), specific (i.e. given for a specific act), prior and revocable. It must be clearly expressed and cannot be inferred from your silence or lack of reaction. There is no need to prove violence or threat if you have not given your consent.
  • Rape: any act of sexual penetration that is not consensual. Penetration can be achieved with sex, fingers, mouth or an object. The absence of consent is sufficient to characterize the offense.
  • If you are between the ages of 15 and 17, sexual intercourse with an adult may be punishable by law in certain situations, such as in the case of lack of consent or if there is pressure, threat or situation of authority (e.g. a teacher, coach, employer) or in the case of a significant age difference that may characterize a constraint.
  • Sextortion: This is to put pressure on you to send or broadcast images or videos of a sexual nature about you.
  • Prostitution of a minor: it is forbidden to pay or promise a benefit in exchange for a sexual act with you, even if you are 15, 16 or 17 years old.

Step-by-step approach

Make sure you get to safety immediately. This may mean going to a friend or family member's house.

You can get closer to one of the following: parent, teacher, school counselor, health professional. They can help you take the necessary steps to ensure your safety.

You can go to the police station or the gendarmerie brigade of your choice, regardless of where the events occurred.

Who shall I contact

It is important to preserve all clues (fingerprint, DNA traces,...) that could be used to identify the perpetrator and to have him convicted in court. Keep clothing worn at the time of the assault and avoid washing.

It may be useful to retrieve the names and contact details of those who may have witnessed the assault.

It is possible to alert the police or gendarmerie by phone call, by SMS if you are unable to speak or by instant messaging:

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By phone

In case of emergency, when rapid intervention is necessary, you can call the emergency police.

To do this, you must dial the 17.

You can also contact the 112 (free call 24/7).

You will then be directed to the right service according to your case. The 112 can be used in all countries of the.

By SMS

114 is the emergency call relay service if you are unable to speak on the phone (deaf, hard of hearing ...) or if it may put you in danger.

The 114 is accessible free of charge 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact possible via:

  • Videophone: I communicate in sign language
  • Chat: I communicate in writing
  • Voice / Return text: I speak and the 114 answers me in writing (or vice versa)

By IM

You can chat with a police officer or a member of the gendarmerie via instant messaging (chat):

Report domestic, sexual or gender-based violence to law enforcement

At any time, the chat history may be deleted from your computer, mobile phone or tablet.

If you are the victim of an assault on public transport, you can contact an agent 24 hours a day, by phone at 3117 or send a text message at 31177. You can also download the 3117 app. This way, you are located more quickly and the triggering of the intervention of the agents is facilitated.

You can make a simple complaint. This allows you to report to the justice (public prosecutor, judicial police officers) the facts of which you have been a victim.

You can do it alone or accompanied, on site or by mail.

FYI  

Your parents or representatives (guardian, trustee,...), may also act on your behalf.

There is no immediate urgency to file a complaint: you can report the facts even if they are several months or years old, as long as the legal time to take legal action (called prescription) is not exceeded.

If you wish your complaint to give rise to prosecutions and get a compensation, you must bring a civil action against you. But, since you are a minor, you must obligatory be represented by a person of full age. These may include:

  • a parent or legal guardian (e.g. guardian, trustee)
  • or a right-holder (grandparents for example)
  • or a social worker (professional working in the field of social services such as child protection for example)
  • or a ad hoc administrator. It is designated for this purpose by the courts, when your interests are threatened by the attitude or inability of your parents to assume their obligations (withdrawal of parental authority for example) or guardians. In this case, you may have a lawyer appointed ex officio by the public prosecutor or the investigating judge if you have not chosen one.

FYI  

If you are represented by an ad hoc administrator and you become an adult during the procedure, you will have to continue your action alone, because the mission of the administrator ends with your majority.

You can consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible for appropriate medical treatment and care. They may also collect forensic evidence that may be useful in a police investigation.

You can also talk to a therapist about what has just happened to you.

Who shall I contact

You can go to a forensic unit (UMJ), even if you have not yet filed a complaint.

Urgent care and testing for sexual assault can be managed.

Emergency contraception or treatment to prevent certain infections may be offered soon after the event.

You can get closer to a social service for minors or a sexual assault center. They are trained to help you, guide you through your steps and learn about your rights.

Several structures can provide you with support as a victim of a sexual offense, including 116 006.

Who shall I contact

  • This service allows victims of infringements (excluding damage to property on the internet) to be listened to and referred to a victim support association or a specialized service. It is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.

    In metropolitan France

    116,006

    Free call

    Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm.

    Outside metropolitan France (or from the foreigner)

    + 33 (0)1 80 52 33 76

    Free call

    Service reachable every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm (Paris time).

    By email

    By email: victimes@116006.fr

The call is free and confidential.

The site Victim Journey guides you through each step.

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  • This service allows victims of infringements (excluding damage to property on the internet) to be listened to and referred to a victim support association or a specialized service. It is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.

    In metropolitan France

    116,006

    Free call

    Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm.

    Outside metropolitan France (or from the foreigner)

    + 33 (0)1 80 52 33 76

    Free call

    Service reachable every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm (Paris time).

    By email

    By email: victimes@116006.fr

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