The program Zone Interdite unveils this Sunday, October 16, on M6, a new investigation into the shortcomings of social assistance for children in our country. The opportunity for the presenter of the program Ophélie Meunier to tell us how she experienced this dive into a shocking system, which fails to protect the children entrusted to her.

After a first report in 2020 already, a new issue of Zone Interdite, broadcast this Sunday October 16 at 9:10 p.m. on M6, has put the failures of social hotels and host families back at the heart of the debate. The show host Ophélie Meunier tells what struck her the most.

'In some homes, (...) there are young people who sink into delinquency or prostitution'

What will we discover in this issue of Zone Interdite?

“There are three parts to discover. First, we went back to the infiltrated homes the first time to see if things had changed since our shoot. In some homes, things have evolved in the positive and in others not unfortunately. There are young people who turn to crime instead of going to school and there are also big problems with prostitution among young girls. We focused on host families. And unfortunately there are a number that take in children but are not qualified to, which shows a real problem in recruiting these families . And finally, we got interested in social hotels and it's extremely shocking.'

Placed children, in danger?

Forbidden Zone reveals the shortcomings of a system that struggles to protect foster children. Immersion in the heart of Child Welfare, an alarming reality for thousands of children.

This Sunday at 9:10 p.m. on M6 pic.twitter.com/P8IhCYFgsF

— Forbidden Zone (@ForbiddenZone) October 13, 2022

What stood out to you the most in this survey?

'Social hotels! We have discovered children who are parked there for months, even years, in places that are sometimes salty and unhealthy Most children are out of school, and in great psychological distress, when they are still just children. They should not at their age go through this, and be in such conditions.

And the second thing that struck me was the recruitment of host families. There is such a lack, such a need today, that if you apply to be host family we can, with very few checks on your identity, potentially entrust you with children almost overnight, which is totally amazing and not at all reassuring . More generally, it's a whole system that doesn't work. And we wonder, me first, why for so many years there have been so many failures and ultimately who are responsible!

'With very few checks (...), we can entrust you with children almost overnight'

Is it a subject that is close to your heart, the cause of children?

'I think obviously when you're a mum, you're all the more sensitive to childhood issues, but it's not at all a direct consequence. Before having my children, I think I'll have I was just as touched by this type of subject. Children are our future, so all issues related to children are important in my opinion.'

Placed children, in danger?

Forbidden Zone reveals the shortcomings of a system that struggles to protect foster children. Immersion in the heart of Child Welfare, an alarming reality for thousands of children.

This Sunday at 9:10 p.m. on M6 pic.twitter.com/P8IhCYFgsF

— Forbidden Zone (@ForbiddenZone) October 13, 2022

What is the purpose of this type of survey?

'Subjects like that, whistleblowers of a failing system, their vocation is really to move the lines. To ensure that minors supported by ASE in our country can have the same opportunities than others, and can grow up in good and safe environments.'

What are the future Forbidden Zone investigations?

'I can confirm that there are very large surveys that are being produced and that will be released in the coming months. For competition reasons, I cannot reveal the subjects to you. But in any case, between the end of the year and the beginning of next year, very strong societal surveys will come out, and these are once again subjects that we have been following for years.'

Exclusive interview that cannot be resumed without mention of the Journal des Femmes

The failures of the ASE at the heart of the program this Sunday evening on M6

Nearly four years of investigation will have been necessary to prepare this new report from Zone Interdite on the child welfare service (ASE) in France. Already in 2020, M6 had broadcast a first subject devoted to homes for children with a state child protection measure. Viewers had been able to discover behind the scenes of these structures where young people are mostly left to their own devices and out of school, in a context of omnipresent violence. So how do we offer them opportunities for the future equal to those of other children? This time again, the report is also edifying. Indeed , in this new issue, to find this Sunday October 16 from 9:10 p.m. on M6 , the teams of journalists specifically focused on the shortcomings of social hotels and host families. A subject that is all the more important since until recently in France, on the 300,000 children and young people who benefited from child protection follow-up according to the figures of the government, approximately 10,000 minors were placed by ASE in these hotels . A mode of accommodation judged however as 'fundamentally unsuitable', by the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (Igas) in a report . Since then, the Taquet law, passed in February 2022, prohibits placements in hotels, but on the ground the reality is quite different.

Source journaldesfemmes.fr