France's Defender of Children Urges Urgent Political Action to Address Children’s Rights Violations

Eric Delemar, the Defender of Children in France, has issued a powerful call for a political awakening to confront the widespread neglect and violations of children's rights across the country. In an interview on January 23, 2026, Delemar highlighted concerning trends including the stigmatization of children, inadequate protection measures, and controversial policies such as SNCF’s "no kids" policy in its new Optimum business class, which sparked public debate about children’s access to public spaces.

Delemar emphasized that over 14 million children in France are frequently overlooked in decision-making processes, largely because they cannot vote. This exclusion has contributed to paradoxical societal expectations where children are discouraged from playing outdoors yet blamed for excessive screen time at home. He pointed to systemic failures in child protection: only about 2% of children who suffer sexual violence see their abusers convicted, despite the Defender of Children receiving more than 4,000 complaints annually related to children’s rights violations.

The Defender warned about the significant human, psychological, and economic costs of neglecting children’s needs in public policies. He stressed the urgent need to shift away from short-term political considerations toward sustainable, long-term solutions that prioritize children’s welfare.

Delemar’s call comes amid growing concern over policies that effectively marginalize children and questions about the adequacy of France’s child protection framework, underscoring the paradoxical treatment and stigmatization children face in society. He urged policymakers to integrate children’s interests firmly into public policy, warning that ignoring these needs compromises not only the well-being of youth but the future of society as a whole.