Child victim of abuse
Verified 19 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
In cases of child abuse, whether physical, psychological, sexual or negligent, there are mechanisms to protect the child, alert the authorities and prosecute the perpetrators. How to proceed? We give you the steps to follow and the available help.
Abuse of a child is any attack on the child's physical, psychological or emotional integrity, as well as on his or her development.
It can be exercised by his parents, by other members of his family, or by people in his entourage (neighbor, friend, close…).
This abuse can be characterized by:
- of physical or sexual violence (bite, burn, strangulation, touching, sexual mutilation...)
- psychological violence (bullying, threats...)
- or voluntary deprivation of care (food, medicine, hygiene, etc.).
FYI
The school bullying and other cases of violence between pupils are dealt with specifically.
Any person (minor or adult) witness to child abuse or suspect or at risk of child abuse must report the facts. It can be an individual or a professional (social worker, doctor...).
The report may be anonymous, whether by post or by telephone.
119
When a situation of child abuse is found, whether one is a victim or a witness (direct or indirect), call 119.
Who shall I contact
Childhood in danger - 119
A telephone number for any child or young person who is a victim of violence or anyone who is concerned about a situation of a child in danger or at risk of being.
By phone
119 (free and confidential call)
24/7
A call on this number is geolocated, identified and prioritized. It doesn't appear on the bills.
On the website www.allo119.gouv.fr
- Real-time chat for children under 21 (7 days a week from 3 pm to 9 pm)
- Device in French sign language for deaf and hard of hearing people
This platform is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 7 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm. - Online collection form to file a situation if you are an adult
Emergency services (15, 17, 18)
In case of emergency, the emergency services may be solicited.
Child Welfare (CSS)
The department's services (child welfare - ASE - or the unit for the collection of information of concern - Crip) may also be seized.
Who shall I contact
Prosecutor of the Republic
For cases of exceptional gravity (physical or sexual violence for example), it is possible to contact directly, by mail, public prosecutor.
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
It is also possible to contact the Defender of Rights, in particular to report malfunctions in the care or protection of the child.
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Warning: attach to your mail the photocopies of the documents relating to your referral.
By email
Access to contact form
The person issuing the alert shall be informed of the action taken on information of concern concerning a minor in danger unless such information is contrary to his or her interests or those of the child.
Failure to report a situation of ill-treatment of which a person is aware may be punished by 3 years in prison and €45,000 of a fine. Where such acts concerned a minor under 15 years of age, the law considered the situation to be more serious and the penalties were increased to five years' imprisonment and €75,000of a fine.
Voluntarily alerting the authorities to incorrect facts is a matter for slanderous denunciation. This offense is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of €45,000.
FYI
The public prosecutor may also initiate, on its own, an investigation following an alert.
Even in the case of parental involvement, a simple complaint can be dropped off by the victim. This act allows to report to the justice system (public prosecutor, judicial police officers) the acts suffered (physical or psychological violence, deprivation of care, etc.).
However, if the minor victim wishes his complaint to be prosecuted, to obtain compensation, he must become a civil party. To do so, it will have to mandatory be represented:
- by an adult (grandparent, guardian, ad hoc administrator...),
- or by an association with more than 5 years of seniority, whose purpose is to defend the victims. In this case, the procedure must already have been initiated by the public prosecutor or follow up on the complaint.
Please note
The limitation period regarding most offenses committed against minors is 30 years from the majority of the victim in case of rape. The perpetrator can therefore be prosecuted and convicted even long after the incident.
The child victim of abuse can benefit from psychological support through:
- the services of theAse: titleContent,
- the medical-psychological centers (CMP) or CMPP,
- the homes of teenagers,
- forensic units (UMJ),
- the psychotrauma cells created in each region.
This care is free of charge and confidential.
Following the report, the child welfare service (ASE) can intervene at the child's home to assess his or her situation.
If the examination concludes that there is a danger or risk of danger to the child, the service may propose various administrative protection measures (for example, home help, reception or occasional accommodation).
However, hotel accommodation is prohibited for children entrusted to the ASE, except in exceptional cases (young people over 16 years, 2 months maximum).
If the examination of the situation concludes that there is a danger to the child and the parents refuse the administrative protection measures or that they are not effective, the service may refer the matter to the public prosecutor. The child may apply to a children's judge for educational assistance measures (follow-up and family support measures) or, if the child is in serious danger, decide to place the child temporarily in emergency care (in a foster family, for example).
The children's judge may take follow-up and family support measures and placement measures.
Follow-up and family support measures
The children's judge shall, to the extent possible, keep the child in the family.
It can designate a qualified person or a specialized service to help the family.
The qualified person is responsible for accompanying the child and his family on a daily basis. She provides educational advice, personalized support and can refer the family to appropriate services.
The specialized service must provide social and educational support to the family to ensuring the health, safety and education of the child.
The child may also benefit from psychological support.
When the child is followed by a specialized service, he can be accommodated there exceptionally or periodically (1 week per month for example).
The judge may make the child or his parents subject to compliance with certain obligations. They can be:
- Attend school (be enrolled in a health or educational institution, including boarding school)
- Engage in a professional activity by the child, if of working age
- Respect psychological or medical follow-up.
If the child is followed by a specialized service, the measure may last 2 years maximum, renewable 1 time.
If the child is followed by a qualified person, there is no maximum duration.
The judge may also order a assistance in managing the family budget, the purpose of which is to restore the financial autonomy of the family or home-based educational assistance whose purpose is to restore the bonds between the parents and the child.
The judge may also order family mediation, in particular to promote communication between parents and children, subject to specific conditions (parental consent, absence of violence). This mechanism aims to ease tensions and improve the family situation.
In addition, the judge may decide on a judicial measure of educational investigation to better assess the family situation before taking more restrictive measures.
It may also prohibit the child's departure from the national territory for a maximum period of 2 years in addition to an educational assistance measure.
Placement measures
The children's judge may decide on a placement measure in the most serious cases.
This measure does not withdraw parental authority to the child's parents.
This measure is fixed for a period of 2 years maximum, renewable 1 time.
However, it is possible that the measures may be ordered for a longer period if the family situation so requires.
Parents can get a rights of access.
The costs of taking care of the minor must be paid by the parents, unless the judge decides otherwise.
In the case of emergency placement, the judge may make a quick decision without first hearing the parties, but must summon them within 15 days to confirm or amend the measure.
Placement measures are carried out under the responsibility of the Youth Judicial Protection (PJJ), which ensures the educational and social follow-up of the minor.
The law provides for specific sanctions to protect minors.
The penalties vary according to the age of the victim and the offender.
Children under the age of 15 are given enhanced protection. Any offense against them carries harsher penalties than if the victim were older. Minors aged 15 and over remain protected but with penalties close to those for adults, except in aggravating circumstances.
The age of the perpetrator also plays a decisive role: a minor perpetrator is generally subject to educational measures or appropriate penalties at his age and his discernment.
Type of offense | Victim < 15 years and minor perpetrator | Victim < 15 years and major perpetrator | Victim ≥ 15 years and minor perpetrator | Victim ≥ 15 years and major perpetrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical violence | Educational measures or penalties appropriate to age and judgment | Total incapacity for work (ITT) < 8 days: 5 years and €75,000 ITT > 8 days: 10 years and €150,000 Mutilation/loss of permanent function: 20 years Death: 30 years | Educational measures or adapted penalties | Possible aggravation if minor victim and perpetrator ascending or having authority over the child |
Sexual violence | Appropriate educational measures | Assault: 7 years and €100,000 If ascendant/authority: 10 years and €150,000 Rape: 20 years, 30 years in case of aggravating circumstances | Appropriate educational measures | Possible aggravation if minor victim and perpetrator ascending or having authority over the child |
Deprivation of care / endangerment | Appropriate educational measures | Deprivation of care: 7 years and €100,000 If death: 20 years Direct endangerment: 1 year and €15,000 | Appropriate educational measures | Possible worsening if minor victim |
Exploitation / violation of morality | Appropriate educational measures | Forced begging: 5 years and €75,000 Corruption: 7 years and €100,000 Trafficking/sexual exploitation: up to 20 years | Appropriate educational measures | Possible worsening if minor victim |
Please note
When we talk about ITT, we are not talking about the inability to work professionally for a minor, but about the period during which he is prevented from living his normal life, that is to say, from moving about, eating, going to school or playing.
The main penalties may also be accompanied by additional penalties such as:
- withdrawal of parental authority,
- the prohibition of activities in contact with children
- or the deprivation of certain civil or family rights.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
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The informants who answer you belong to the Department of Justice.
Penalties for violence
Smear denunciation
Derogation from professional secrecy in the case of minors in danger
Penalties for endangering a minor
Penalties for failure to report a crime or offense
Limitation periods for criminal acts committed against children
Limitation periods for criminal acts committed against children
Exercise of the rights of the civil party by a child protection association
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