CIIVISE Demands Immediate Implementation of Its Recommendations in the Lyhanna Case

Paris – 06/05/2026: The Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (CIIVISE) has called on the French government to promptly take all consequences from the case of the missing Lyhanna and to implement its recommendations. In its November 2023 report, CIIVISE had among other things recommended that complaints about sexual violence against minors be treated with priority and that victims be informed about the progress of investigations. However, these recommendations have not yet been fully implemented.

The case of the 11-year-old Lyhanna, who has been missing since May 29, 2026, in Fleurance in the Gers department, has reignited the discussion about the protection of children in France. On June 1, 2026, a 41-year-old man, the father of a friend of Lyhanna, was taken into custody on suspicion of “abduction and unlawful deprivation of liberty of a minor under 15 years.” The suspect, Jérôme B., has so far not made any statements regarding the matter.

The investigations focus on whether Jérôme B. is involved in Lyhanna’s disappearance. Despite intensive searches involving around 170 to 180 gendarmes, as well as helicopters and drones, the girl remains missing. Authorities emphasize the urgency of the situation and warn about the risks associated with the passage of time.

In this context, CIIVISE has once again highlighted the importance of its recommendations. It calls on the government to ensure children’s safety through concrete measures and to advance the implementation of the recommendations without further delay. The commission stresses that victims of sexual violence and incest have a right to information and protection and that authorities must fulfill their responsibilities.

The French government is now under pressure to act quickly and take the necessary steps to improve child protection and restore public trust in institutions. Implementing CIIVISE’s recommendations could make a decisive contribution.

The situation remains tense, and investigations continue. Authorities appeal to the public to report any information that could help resolve the case. At the same time, the importance of a comprehensive reform of the child protection system in France is once again emphasized to prevent future cases of child abuse and abduction.

CIIVISE will continue to monitor the situation closely and expects concrete steps from the government to improve child protection in France.