Paris, 28 January 2026 – Justice Initiative and its President Guido Fluri welcome a major step forward for justice in France after the National Assembly unanimously adopted the bill introduced by deputy Karine Lebon concerning the former minors of La Réunion known as the “Enfants dits de la Creuse.” The decision opens the way toward long-awaited reparations for thousands of children who, between 1962 and 1984, were taken from La Réunion and sent to mainland France under a state-run policy that led to separation, abuse, and lifelong trauma.
The adopted law creates, for the first time, a formal framework for reparation, including financial compensation, official recognition of the harm suffered, and a structured commitment to remembrance. It represents a crucial acknowledgment of the lasting consequences of this policy and places France in line with Council of Europe Resolution 2533, adopted unanimously in January 2024, which calls on member states to address historical abuses against children in institutional care and ensure reparations.
Karine Lebon underlined the importance of the vote, stating: “We are not erasing the pain, but we are opening a path toward justice and dignity.” Survivors welcomed the decision as a turning point. Marie-Germaine Périgogne, Director of the Justice Initiative France Hub, President of the FEDD, and herself a survivor, emphasized: “Even if no decision can heal our scars, this recognition finally allows us to find a sense of peace.”
This progress is the result of years of advocacy supported by Justice Initiative across Europe. The organization has backed the case of the “Enfants de la Creuse” within the broader framework of Resolution 2533. Guido Fluri stressed the significance of the moment: “Time cannot erase the gravity of these injustices. The ‘Enfants de la Creuse’, like all victims of institutional abuse, deserve recognition, truth, and justice.”
The bill will now move to the Senate as the legislative process continues.
Press release in French: Click here
