French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu presented initial measures to better protect children on Tuesday, following a meeting with key ministers, in a bid to quell the public anger and emotion sweeping the country over the death of 11-year-old Lyhanna.
Issued on: 09/06/2026 - 17:23Modified: 09/06/2026 - 17:24
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Lecornu held a 90-minute meeting with several ministers at Matignon Palace on Tuesday morning to discuss child protection and sexual violence, in the wake of a case that has shocked the country. He proposed increasing penalties for serial rapists, who could face life imprisonment instead of the current 20 years. Regarding crimes against children, Lecornu proposed that investigative actions be carried out "within a maximum of three months." This measure is a response to what is seen as inaction of the justice system regarding the main suspect in Lyhanna's death, Jérôme B., who, prior to this tragedy, had been the subject of several complaints and reports. Further proposals include modifying the statute of limitations, informing victims throughout the legal process, and requiring justification for decisions to dismiss sexual crimes and offenses. Other measures are being finalised and all will be incorporated into the draft law on child protection, already presented to the Council of Ministers late last month and which will be examined by Parliament in July. Overwhelming failings "The justice system hasn’t done its job, I don’t understand why we have to wait so long," the mother of 10-year-old Rosa, who accuses Jérôme B. of rape, said speaking from Toulouse. She had filed a complaint in August 2025, which did not result in the suspect being summoned and was not followed by sufficiently swift investigative actions. Many months passed between this report and the abduction of Lyhanna in Fleurance on 29 May. The pressure has been mounting on the government, with demonstrations held in several French cities.
