Legal Support Needed for Child Protection

Hi, my name is Clémentine. I am a transdisciplinary artist and researcher, and I'm fundraising for legal support in order to file a complaint against the sexual abuse I endured as a child at the hands of my stepfather. I believed I had left this painful chapter of my life behind long ago, but last February, while I was preparing for my Ph.D. exam, the mother of my abuser’s biological children contacted me with heartbreaking news: her daughter Eva, 13 at the time, had just filed a complaint and had been in court against her father for pedocriminal and incestuous acts—acts disturbingly similar to those I experienced 20 years ago.

I immediately wrote a witness statement to support Eva’s case and to help protect her from her father. Thankfully, Eva is now safe with her mother. But, her younger brother, Yvan, only 6 years old, remains in their father’s custody. Despite our efforts, the legal process has been painfully slow. For six months now, Yvan has been living with his father, separated from his mother and sister. We believe that if I file my own complaint, it will create urgency in the case and compel the prosecutor to act swiftly, allowing Yvan to be reunited with his family and ensuring his safety.

For months, I have been trying to gather the financial resources to obtain the legal support needed for this legal process, which, as we know, can be extremely challenging for victims. Eva faced harsh treatment in court, where her father’s lawyers accused her of lying and posed inappropriate questions about her personal life, despite her being just a child. The legal system continues to fail to adequately protect victims of sexual violence, and the act of filing a complaint can be retraumatising for survivors. This is why I seek professional guidance to prepare as thoroughly as possible.

I have found a lawyer willing to assist me in preparing my complaint for the public prosecutor. Her expertise will enable me to present a well-structured case, minimising the risk of delays that could arise from missing details. This lawyer has successfully represented a friend of mine in an incest case, so I have great trust in her judgment. However, her fees are steep—€300 per hour. I am currently estranged from my family, who have been unable to act to protect me against this violence, which is why I am reaching out to my wider community for support.

With this legal assistance, I aim not only to seek justice for my younger self but also to protect Yvan, facilitating his safe reunion with his mother and sister, whom he has not seen in six months. Any help you can provide would mean the world to me and to this effort to ensure safety and justice for Eva, Yvan, and myself. Thank you so much for your support.