Guide to identify child violence released

The High Commissioner for Childhood, Sarah El Haïry, announced on October 15 the release of a guide designed to assist professionals in identifying violence against children and collecting their statements. This guide is intended for a wide range of professionals who work with minors, including those in education, health, sports, and animation.

Signs of potential violence in children

The guide emphasizes the importance of recognizing changes in behavior that may indicate a child is experiencing violence. These changes can include repeated injuries, sudden isolation, persistent sadness, significant anxiety, or sleep problems.

Indicators in school settings

Schools can also detect signs of potential violence through unusual absenteeism, a sudden drop in grades, difficulty concentrating, or a refusal to participate in activities the child previously enjoyed. However, these behaviors alone do not necessarily indicate violence, but their appearance, accumulation, or evolution may raise concerns.

How to respond when a child speaks

When a child begins to talk about their experiences, the guide recommends staying calm, not passing judgment, and allowing the child to tell their story at their own pace without interruptions. Adults should reassure the child they were right to speak and remind them they are not responsible for what they have experienced.

Avoiding leading questions

The guide warns that asking numerous, suggestive, or insistent questions can weaken and influence the child’s narrative. Instead, it recommends listening without questioning and retaining the terms used by the child before sharing the information with professionals. When questions are necessary, they should be open and neutral, such as "Can you tell me what happened?"

Responsibility for investigations

Investigations into suspected abuse are the responsibility of competent services, including police officers, gendarmes, and judges. Alongside the guide, a free six-hour training session is available on the website of the Ministry of Health.

Goal of the initiative

According to El Haïry, the goal is to ensure that everyone is aware of the dramas children can experience and to provide the necessary tools to respond appropriately.