Child welfare system a 'breeding ground for minor prostitution,' says Paris lawyer

Minors placed within France's child protection system (ASE) are being targeted by criminals who exploit their vulnerability for prostitution, according to Laurence Tartour, a lawyer with the Paris Bar.

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The adolescents placed at the ASE are identified by criminals who use their vulnerability to divert them.

"The adolescents placed at the ASE are identified by criminals who use their vulnerability to divert them," Tartour explained during an appearance on Le Figaro TV. She believes that to prevent this "cascade of prostitution" among girls in care, a proactive support system is crucial. "We must respond quickly, believe them, and verbalize their suffering; we cannot leave them like that!" she stated, expressing frustration over the current situation.

Tartour emphasized the importance of valuing children's voices and ensuring their rights are protected. She advocated for dedicated spaces where these children can connect and feel safe, envisioning the ASE as a "place to live, a place where you feel good, we must make them dream!"

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We must respond quickly, believe them, and verbalize their suffering; we cannot leave them like that!

Despite the state allocating between 10 and 12 billion euros annually to the ASE, Tartour argued that this substantial sum is insufficient for such a vast and complex organization. She noted that each child's situation is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. The lawyer also pointed out that judges do not take pleasure in placing children and consider it a last resort. The significant increase in children placed in care, nearly 50% over twenty years, is largely attributed to the growing number of unaccompanied minors.

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the ASE must be a place to live, a place where you feel good, we must make them dream!