These first national conferences in the fight against sectarian aberrations on March 9 and 10, the initiative of Sonia Backès, Secretary of State to the Minister of the Interior and Overseasr, in charge of Citizenship, respond to the resurgence of the sectarian phenomenon in France. THE new forms of unconventional, sometimes dangerous and sectarian-oriented care practices, numerous since the beginning of the health crisis, constitute one of the priorities of the future interministerial action plan against sectarian aberrations announced before the summer.
These meetings are the first major political event in the fight against sectarian aberrations in France for 22 years and the adoption of the About-Picard law. They constitute a major event because they brought together over two days most of the state actors involved in the fight against sectarian aberrations (Ministries of the Interior and Overseas Territories, of Justice, of National Education and Youth, Health and Prevention, Economy and Finance, Labour, Full Employment and Integration, Childhood, the majority of associations involved in this subject and that of support for victims (National Union of Associations for the Defense of Families and the Individual (UNADFI), Center against mental manipulation (CCMM), National Center for Family Support in the Face of Sectarian Influence (CAFFES), Groups of Studies of Thought Movements for the Protection of the Individual (GEMPPI), Secular Circle for the Prevention of Sectarianism (CLPS), France Victimes, etc. as well as victims, French and European experts on the subject of influence , many parliamentarians and elected officials, professionals els of health, digital platforms, magistrates or even scientists.
The objectives were as follows: to give new impetus to public policy in the fight against this scourge and to build a clear roadmap for the next ten years, with strong and concrete actions to be taken.
The seven work priorities identified are as follows:
- Develop the law and judicial responses. The new sectarian phenomena call for reflection on the evolution of current law, particularly in terms of criminal law, civil law, the protection of minors and health law.
- Strengthen interdepartmental cooperation. The fight against sectarian aberrations requires interministerial impetus and coordination of all state actors. At the local level, the prefects convene an annual meeting of all the representatives of the decentralized State services and civil society actors. The training and awareness of public officials and associations is an essential issue in order to provide an appropriate response to the phenomena of sectarian aberrations.
- Consolidate the partnership between the State and associations throughout the territory. The various associations fighting against sectarian aberrations intervene in a complementary manner alongside state and local actors: effective relays between the State and the victims, they also contribute to the detection of sectarian aberrations.
- Better support victims. MIVILUDES must work in consultation with association actors in order to gather the voices of victims and their relatives and to meet their needs. The collection and processing of reports made to MIVILUDES must be supplemented by an analysis of the needs of victims or their relatives and by a coordinated response between MIVILUDES, specialized associations and generalist associations providing assistance to victims.
- Strengthen the fight against sectarian aberrations in Europe. France is cooperating with other European states to fight against sectarian aberrations. Actions in this area should be stepped up with all of the European institutions and participation in the negotiation of European Union texts to strengthen the legal arsenal and protect victims, especially minors, as well as the authors of reports.
- Fight against sectarian aberrations on the Internet. The health crisis has given rise to new forms of unconventional, sometimes dangerous and sectarian care practices and has weakened some people by exploiting fear and loss of bearings. MIVILUDES and its associative partners are called upon to strengthen their links with the various platforms to better inform the public and protect the authors of reports.
- Deconstruct the conspiratorial discourse to better fight against sectarian aberrations. Many cult groups use conspiracy theories to exert their influence. The analysis of their speeches makes it possible to better apprehend the sectarian phenomenon and to alert the public to the dangerousness of certain groups.
The creation of an offense of “incitement to stop treatment for serious illness” could thus be proposed.
• “The 7 work priorities of the national meetings against sectarian aberrations” – Press release, State Secretariat to the Minister of the Interior and Overseas, in charge of Citizenship, 8 March 2023.
• Read also: “20 years of prevention and fight against sectarian aberrations in France”,