Marne: an investigation opened for sexual assault within the framework of the SNU

2023-05-01 05:36:20

New controversy around the universal national service (SNU). An investigation for sexual assault was opened following the complaint of a teenager, denouncing acts allegedly committed by an SNU supervisor in a high school in the Châlons (Marne) sector.

The preliminary investigation, opened for “aggravated sexual assault” against this young girl born in 2007, was entrusted to the Châlons-en-Champagne police station, said prosecutor Ombeline Mahuzier, confirming information from the weekly Marianne.

⚡ Information Marianne. A young girl denounced sexual touching of which she would have been the victim from a supervisor while she was performing her universal national service (SNU), last week, in the Marne. https://t.co/eT0HIEfDe8

— Marianne (@MarianneleMag) April 28, 2023

“The facts were allegedly committed by a supervisor who has no known criminal record, as part of an SNU carried out,” added the prosecutor. The magistrate is “not aware of any other reports concerning him”.

For the Secretary of State in charge of youth, Sarah El Haïry, “the inadmissible behavior of an individual cannot discredit the commitment of the 9,000 other professional supervisors trained to support young people in their SNU”. She underlines that “each supervisor is subject to a check of good repute” and that “the information feedback circuits have been specified in order to provide the victims with all the help and support they need quickly”.

Another report in Hauts-de-Seine

A major project by Emmanuel Macron, launched in 2019 with the aim of eventually making it compulsory, the SNU offers teenagers aged 15 to 17 the opportunity to participate in a free “cohesion stay”, including sports, cultural and intellectual activities. , then to an 84-hour mission of general interest.

Controversial, the SNU currently only concerns young volunteers, 32,000 in 2022. The president explained on April 23 that he wanted it to be “gradually increased”, but “without making it compulsory throughout the country overnight. “.

In mid-April, the Secretary of State for Youth, Sarah El Haïry, seized the public prosecutor after accusations of sexual harassment, racism and humiliation during SNU stays in the Hauts-de- Seine, in June and July 2022. According to a document revealed by the weekly Politisthe facts would have been committed by a commander and a lieutenant-colonel against tutors and volunteers.