The crisis is bogged down at the independent commission on incest and sexual violence against minors (Ciivise).
This Thursday evening, it was the turn of Sébastien Boueilh, the president, to announce his resignation in a press release, less than two months after taking office.
Aged 45, this man, himself a victim of rape between the ages of 12 and 16 at the hands of his cousin's husband, explains this decision by the "slander, personal attacks" to which he has been the subject since his appointment on December 11.
He also declares himself “concerned above all about the best interests of children, and particularly child victims of incest and sexual violence, wishing that the commission can continue its work in a favorable climate”.
This news comes the day after the withdrawal of the vice-president of the commission, Caroline Rey-Salmon, doctor and legal expert targeted by the complaint of a young woman for “sexual assault” during a gynecological examination in 2019. Initially, Sébastien Boueilh took her defense, affirming in the show “Quotidien” on TMC that he provided his “support” to his vice-president.
“If the victim filed a complaint, so much the better.
I think Caroline will do it too and justice will decide,” he declared.
A reaction which sowed disorder and shocked many members of the Ciivise whose mission is precisely to support and listen to victims of rape and sexual assault.
Already controversies
Sébastien Boueilh created his association in 2013 to help victims of sexual violence in sport.
He was appointed in December by the State Secretariat for Children, then headed by Charlotte Caubel, in a very tense context at the head of the Ciivise but he was already a member of this body, created in 2021 under the impetus from the head of state.
Twelve members resigned in December after learning that the former co-president, Judge Édouard Durand, would not be reappointed.
Known for his outspokenness and his committed positions, the magistrate would have irritated the government which would have chosen to oust him, to the great displeasure of the majority of the members of his team.
Two columns by personalities and children's rights activists were published in the press immediately, expressing "the concerns" of all in relation to the new directions taken by the Ciivise.
Sébastien Boueilh and Caroline Rey-Salmon also announced on February 5 when they took office that they would stop traveling to the region for public meetings as the members of the first Ciivise had done.
Finally, Judge Durand broke his silence this Wednesday in Mediapart, declaring that "a mission, a doctrine and the incarnation of this mission and this doctrine have been put to an end", a sort of snub for his successor.
“We take note of the resignation of Sébastien Boueilh and we will bring together stakeholders in the sector in the coming weeks to study the follow-up to be given to this commission,” it was said this Thursday evening in the entourage of the minister in charge of Health, Catherine Vautrin.
“It is not the end of the Civil Society but the question is raised,” we add.