Child sexual abuse case backlog highlighted after 11-year-old's murder

The discovery of Lyhanna's body in a Gers grain silo sparked scrutiny of France's handling of child sexual abuse cases, revealing a backlog of 85,047 complaints that remain unaddressed. Jérôme Barella, who had three prior allegations of sexual violence against minors, was arrested on charges of rape and murder, despite earlier accusations being dropped or stalled. The audit found thousands of "phantom cases" that never moved from police to prosecutors, confirming warnings from victim-rights groups.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has scheduled a discussion with the Interior Ministry to enhance coordination across agencies. Victims' advocates stress the need for specialized investigative teams, comprehensive training for police, magistrates, health workers and educators, and clearer communication with complainants to prevent secondary victimisation.