France is summoning all state prosecutors to address systemic failures in the judicial system, highlighted by the case of a missing and deceased 11-year-old girl. A suspect with prior complaints of sexual assault against children has been arrested.
France is summoning all its state prosecutors to a meeting next week after the case of an 11-year-old girl, Lyhanna, revealed a series of potential judicial mistakes and missed opportunities. Lyhanna was reported missing on May 29 from the southern French town of Fleurance. The father of one of her classmates, who had faced multiple complaints of sexual assault against children, has been arrested in connection with her disappearance. President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that the handling of the case was not without fault. Political figures across the spectrum, including far-right leader Jordan Bardella and Green leader Marine Tondelier, have pointed to the case as an example of broader failures within the judicial system, particularly in protecting children from sexual violence. The justice and interior ministries will jointly investigate potential errors, including a failure to execute a prosecutor's request to investigate a previous complaint against the suspect. The results of this investigation are expected to be made public.
The case has exposed potential systemic failures within the French judicial system, prompting a high-level meeting of prosecutors to address concerns about child protection and the handling of serious complaints.