The Lianna Scandal: Camille Kushner Criticizes the Response to Sexual Violence

Paris – 16.06.2026: Camille Kushner, Professor of Private Law at the University of Paris-Cité, spoke on June 16, 2026, on the Franceinfo program “11h/13h” about the background and consequences of the case of 11-year-old Lianna. Kushner criticized the response to sexual violence so far as insufficient and emphasized that the problems are caused not so much by individual mistakes but by systemic deficiencies. She stressed that the expression “‘Celui de trop'” (“one too many”) is insignificant, as the previous violence was already “one too many.”

The Lianna case has caused a wide public outcry in France regarding the protection of children and women from sexual violence. 11-year-old Lianna was found dead on June 4, 2026, in the Gers region. The main suspect is Jérôme Barella, 41 years old, who had previously been noted in cases of sexual violence against minors. In 2013, a complaint was filed against his father, Joël Barella, for sexual violence. The investigation was closed in 2021 but was reopened due to the Lianna scandal.

In connection with the tragedy, politicians and public organizations are calling for broad legislative reforms. The bill, submitted by Socialist Deputy Céline Thiébo-Martinez in December 2025 with over 110 co-authors, aims to effectively combat all forms of sexual violence against women and children. The project contains 79 articles and covers the areas of justice, police, healthcare, and education to improve victim protection and strengthen prevention.

The public debate also discusses the introduction of chemical castration for sex offenders. Supporters, including Bruno Retello, see this as a deterrent measure, while experts warn that such methods alone are of limited effectiveness. In fact, offenders require comprehensive therapeutic support and long-term psychiatric treatment to prevent recidivism.

Anger over previous shortcomings was expressed on June 8, 2026, in numerous French cities when thousands of people took to demonstrations with slogans like “Justice réveille-toi” (“Justice, wake up”) and “Plus jamais cela” (“Never again this”) during protests. The Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, was especially criticized for alleged failures in preventing and effectively investigating sexual violence.

The discussion surrounding the Lianna case continues. The focus remains on the call for a substantially more effective protection system for women and children as well as an integrated approach that will include preventive measures, rapid response, and full support for victims and offenders. Only in this way can similar tragedies be avoided in the future.