Special “Melanie Room” Supports Besançon Child Protection Team in Interviewing Child Victims of Sexual Abuse

Besançon – June 11, 2026: In Besançon, France, a specially designed “Melanie Room” has been established to facilitate interviews of children who have been sexually abused by the family protection unit. This initiative aims to provide a safe and child-friendly environment for young victims to share their experiences.

The “Melanie Room” is named after the first young patient to benefit from this program. The room’s design is intended to make children feel safe and comfortable. The walls are painted in soft colors, and the room is furnished with many toys, including anatomical dolls and puzzles, which help children identify body parts and explain their experiences. Such an arrangement enables children to talk about their ordeal without fear of misunderstanding.

Another important feature of the “Melanie Room” is the technical equipment. The room is equipped with cameras and microphones to record the interview process. This is not only for documentation but also to protect the children, so they do not have to repeatedly recount their traumatic experiences. A child psychiatrist can monitor the interview from an adjacent room and intervene if necessary. This practice complies with French criminal procedure law, which requires audiovisual recording of interviews with minor victims in certain cases.

The establishment of the “Melanie Room” in Besançon is part of a nationwide project to improve the interviewing of children who have been sexually abused. Similar specially designed spaces have been set up in other French cities such as Saint-Laurent-de-Mure in the Rhône department. The initiative is supported by various organizations and professionals, emphasizing the importance of conducting interviews in a child-appropriate manner to minimize the stress on young victims while ensuring the quality of the information obtained.

The “Melanie Room” in Besançon was established in 2023 on the second floor of the family protection unit police station. It is part of a comprehensive plan by French authorities aimed at enhancing support and protection for children who have experienced violence. Through such measures, efforts are made to give voice to victims, ensure their experiences are heard, and considered in criminal prosecutions.

The creation of the “Melanie Room” in Besançon is an important step in combating child sexual violence, demonstrating the commitment of French authorities to develop innovative and compassionate approaches to meet the needs of victims while improving the quality of investigations. It is hoped that this model will be expanded to other regions in France to further strengthen the protection and support of children affected by violence.