Overview

• The parliamentary commission’s final report, released April 8, 2025, describes the child protection system as being in a state of collapse, with urgent calls for legislative and financial reforms.
• Key recommendations include establishing a new funding mechanism, adopting a programming law, and creating a repair commission for victims of institutional maltreatment.
• Minister Catherine Vautrin has proposed initiatives to prevent child placements and support vulnerable families but has not provided specific financial commitments due to budgetary constraints.
• Official data shows nearly 400,000 children are under the care of the Aide sociale à l’enfance (ASE), with rising caseloads and a decade-long decline in personnel exacerbating the crisis.
• Advocacy groups and professionals stress the need for immediate action, warning that inadequate resources and fragmented oversight continue to endanger children’s well-being.