The special "Salle Mélanie" supports the child protection unit in Besançon during the questioning of sexual assault victims

Besançon – 11.06.2026: In Besançon, France, a specially designed “Mélanie Room” has been created to facilitate the hearing of children victims of sexual assault by the Family Protection Brigade. This initiative aims to provide young victims with a safe and child-friendly environment in which they can share their experiences.

The “Mélanie Room” is named after the first young patient to benefit from this procedure. It is designed to give children a sense of security and familiarity. The walls are painted in soft colors and the room is equipped with many toys, including anatomical dolls and puzzles, which help children name body parts and explain their experiences. This setup is intended to allow children to express themselves without fear of being misunderstood.

Another important aspect of the “Mélanie Room” is its technical equipment. The rooms are equipped with cameras and microphones to record the hearings. This not only serves to document the testimonies but also protects the children, as they do not have to repeat their traumatic experiences multiple times. A child psychiatrist can monitor the hearing from an adjacent room and intervene if necessary. This method complies with the requirements of French criminal law, which in certain cases mandates audiovisual recording of hearings of minor victims.

The installation of the “Mélanie Room” in Besançon is part of a national program aimed at improving the hearings of children victims of sexual assault. Such specially equipped rooms already exist in other French cities, such as Saint-Laurent-de-Mure in the Rhône department. This initiative is supported by various organizations and professionals who emphasize the importance of child-appropriate interviews to minimize the trauma of young victims while ensuring the quality of the information collected.

The “Mélanie Room” in Besançon was opened in 2023 on the second floor of the Family Protection Brigade police station. It is part of a comprehensive approach by the French authorities aimed at strengthening the support and protection of children victims of violence. These measures are intended to give victims a voice and ensure that their experiences are heard and taken into account in judicial proceedings.

The opening of the “Mélanie Room” in Besançon represents a major advance in the fight against sexual violence against children. It reflects the commitment of the French authorities to develop innovative and compassionate methods, tailored to the needs of victims, while improving the quality of investigations. It is hoped that this model will be adopted in other regions of France to strengthen the protection and support of children victims of violence.