Multi-sectoral Agreement concerning Children Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, or Serious Neglect

The Multi-sectoral Agreement concerning Children Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, or Serious Neglect, signed in 2021, reaffirms the commitment of the signatory government ministries and organizations to work collaboratively to ensure children are protected. It is part of the Orientations gouvernementales en matière d’agression sexuelle (government orientations on sexual assault, in French only). Provided as an appendix to the Agreement, this practice guide (in French only) provides information and guidance to partners on the relevant legal framework, the situations covered by the Agreement, the socio-judicial intervention procedure, specific contexts and monitoring implementation of the agreement.

The socio-judicial intervention procedure provided in the Agreement has five steps:

1. Reporting to the Director of Youth Protection of a situation of abuse
2. Liaison and planning
3. Investigation and assessment
4. Decision-making
5. Action and feedback

The Agreement aims to guarantee better protection for children and to provide them with the help they need by planning for close collaboration between the Director of Youth Protection, the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, the police and, if necessary, other involved parties. These parties may include educational institutions and organizations, the Ministère de la Famille, educational childcare services, health and social services institutions and organizations, victim-support organizations, and sports and recreation organizations.

Complementary Information to the Multi-Sectoral Agreement concerning Children who are Victims of Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, or Serious Neglect (PDF 219 Kb)