Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram Abuse Scandal Prompts Calls for Nationwide Child Protection Audit

The Ciivise urges comprehensive reviews of alert systems in child-focused institutions as over 100 allegations surface against the Catholic school.

The Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram school in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques is under investigation for decades-long abuse allegations, including violence and sexual assaults, involving over 100 victims.
The Ciivise (Commission on Violence Against Children) has called for a nationwide audit of alert systems in institutions working with children to prevent similar failures.
Former Education Minister and current Prime Minister François Bayrou, linked to the school through family ties, denies knowledge of or involvement in the alleged abuses during his tenure in the 1990s.
A 1996 inspection report, ordered by Bayrou, dismissed allegations of abuse despite evidence, leading to criticism of systemic negligence and administrative silence.
Victims and advocates criticize the lack of accountability and demand immediate action to implement stricter child protection measures across all institutions.