France calls for judicial reform after murder of 11-year-old girl
Following the killing of an 11-year-old in southwestern France, officials and activists demand a review of the justice system and faster handling of child sexual abuse complaints.
A 11-year-old girl from Fleurance, southwestern France, was found dead on a farm six days after disappearing in late May, sparking nationwide protests demanding changes to the justice system. The main suspect, 41-year-old Jérôme Barella, a parent of a classmate, had previously been the subject of multiple complaints alleging sexual violence against minors, including a report of repeated rape of a 10-year-old girl filed in August, but had not been detained or questioned until after the girl's body was discovered. Activists say the case illustrates systemic failures, with dozens of complaints against Barella linked to at least nine separate incidents involving underage victims.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin apologized to the victim’s family and ordered prosecutors to review roughly 70,000 pending child-victim complaints by mid-July. Demonstrators in more than 150 towns have gathered outside courthouses, calling for accountability and reforms to ensure timely investigations of abuse allegations.
"It's not a failure of one court, one judge or one prosecutor – it's the entire system that needs to be reconsidered," said Virginie Bordeaux, a child-rights activist.
"If the complaint filed in August had been taken seriously, the girl might still be alive today," Bordeaux added.
Protesters also urged authorities to expedite legal processes and strengthen protections for children, emphasizing that repeated warnings had been ignored for months.