Wave of child abuse cases shakes schools in Paris

Wave of child abuse cases shakes schools in Paris1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleHugh Schofieldin ParisAFP via Getty ImagesParents have been shocked by the wave of allegations and protests have been held that feature slogans such as "protect our children"Warning: You may find some of the graphic detail in this story disturbingA school assistant will go on trial in Paris on Tuesday accused of sexual mistreatment of young children in his care.It is the latest case in a year-long scandal that has shaken the school system in the French capital, where some 15,000 such assistants - known as animateurs - are employed as non-teaching staff.Currently enquiries are under way at nearly 100 Paris crèches, kindergartens and junior schools where animateurs have been accused of inappropriate, aggressive or sexualised behaviour.Trials in three other cases are to take place over the summer, and a verdict is due in a fourth which was held earlier this month. More are likely to follow.Last week police detained 16 people after a swoop at three schools in the 7th arrondissement or district. Three people were subsequently charged with sexually inappropriate behaviour to children.Tuesday's case centres on the Alphonse Baudin junior school in the 11th arrondissement, where the animateur is accused of sexualised touching with five children.One man told the BBC that in April 2025 he had already spotted unusual signs in his four-year-old daughter when another parent reported that their child had been molested."My wife took our daughter into the garden and asked her if she had been touched in after-school time, and she said 'Yes, David touches me and gives me cuddles.'"My wife said, 'Show me', and my daughter started stroking her back in a bizarre way. That's when we knew something was wrong."AFP via Getty ImagesElisabeth Guthmann co-founded after-school association SOS-Périscolaire in response to the increasing reports of abu...