The Bordeaux area is in shock after the revelations concerning Gilles Delignac, former teacher at the renowned Catholic establishment Saint-Genès-La Salle. Accused of rape on 17 students and sexual assault on six others, the 54-year-old man is said to have caused at least 36 alleged victims.
Victims traumatized for many years
The modus operandi described by the investigation sends chills down your spine. Attacks on children while they sleep during school trips. But also a blindfolded “taste game” organized during lunch breaks in class.
For many victims, now in their twenties, the trauma resurfaced much later. “I had doubts… these doubts emerged during my first sexual relations. When the affair broke out, everything came to the surface“, confides Estelle, one of the complainants, to
Southwest.
This file recalls the absolute need to strengthen vigilance and recruitment within National Education and after-school structures, like the “shock” plan recently announced by the City of Paris.
Breaking the Myth of the Unknown Assailant
To effectively protect a child, you must first understand the reality of violence. Contrary to popular belief, the threat rarely comes from a stranger lurking in the shadows.
Dr Laurence Dulière, pediatrician, and Sabine Walbert, clinical psychologist, recalled in a previous article for
True Medical that most violence comes from a person of trust or authority: a teacher, a leader, a family member, etc.
It is essential to know that silence is the main weapon of abusers, because they use secrecy to isolate the child. But also that boys are also victims, even if they keep silent more out of shame. “Prevention helps avoid mutism and reassures the child that he will be protected if he speaks“, insists Dr Dulière.
Intimacy education: naming to protect
Prevention starts with vocabulary. From a very young age, specialists recommend naming body parts without taboos, including private parts. Explain that these areas are those “hidden under panties or swimsuits” gives clear guidance to the child.
He must understand that he has a sovereign right over his body:
- The right to say no. Even to an adult he loves, the child can refuse physical contact (kiss, hug);
- Respect for privacy. Learning to knock before entering or to close the toilet door reinforces this notion of “personal territory”;
- The difference between secrets. It should be explained that there are “dangerous” secrets – those that make you feel afraid or uncomfortable. “If he feels uncomfortable or if someone asks him about a worrying secret, he should know that he can and should talk about it to a trusted adult.“, remind the experts.
Welcoming speech: good reflexes for parents
When a child begins to confide, the adult’s reaction is decisive. Panic or anger, while understandable, can frighten the child and cause him or her to retract.
- Active listening: Receive his comments calmly, without passing judgment and without asking leading questions;
- Immediate protection: Never trivialize a story. “The secret must be broken” insist the specialists;
- The alert: Contact the competent authorities immediately: 119, the family protection brigades or social services.
The increase in reports in schools reminds us that zero risk does not exist. However, by making the home a space for free speech and by educating the child on his right to consent, parents create the strongest barrier against control.