#Sexual #assault #young #person #DPJ #words #express #horror #reacts #Régine #Laurent
The story of a young girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted by the father of her host family and who was not believed when she tried to tell adults about the events scandalized Régine Laurent, who reminded of the importance of listening to children.
“There are no words to express the horror experienced by these victims,” said Régine Laurent, who chaired a commission in her name to examine youth protection systems.
Like her, the Minister of Social Services Lionel Carmant reacted to the news earlier in the day, Wednesday, indicating that accounts “will have to go to court” in the face of this story which “scandalized” him.
A young person from the Directorate of Youth Protection (DPJ) tried to denounce in 2004 the father of the foster family to which she had been entrusted in the Quebec region, reported The Press.
She would have spoken to the mother and to a worker from the DPJ who, however, did not believe her. More than 70 young people have been entrusted to this family over the years and two other young girls have also reported cases of sexual assault.
“When we talk about victims, we must remember that we are talking about 12-year-olds. For me, they are children, they are our children,” said Ms. Laurent during the With on LCN.
According to her, questions must be asked on the side of the DPJ to understand at what level these decisions were made, whether on the side of the stakeholders or the supervisors.
“In all cases, we did not take into account the words of this child,” she ruled. It’s still astonishing that none of the adults went further, even to question her.”
Since then, the new law on youth protection imposes an obligation to transmit information to the DPJ and the police.
“It would not have remained in this leaden screed of omerta [si cette loi avait déjà été en place]», believes the analyst.
She wants the DPJ to shed light on this matter in order to know everything that happened and review the decisions, but especially the non-decisions, that were taken.
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