Paris: English teacher suspected of rape and sexual assault of kindergarten children
An English instructor working at a private preschool in northern Paris has been taken into custody on suspicion of rape and sexual assault against young children. Around twenty complaints have reportedly been filed against the man, who worked in after-school programs. The investigation concerns particularly serious offenses allegedly committed against preschool students.
The investigation began in early July following a complaint from the parents of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl. The alleged incidents occurred during introductory English classes. Since this initial report, other families have come forward, leading investigators to broaden their scope. At this stage, the legal proceedings are ongoing, and the allegations will need to be substantiated by the courts.
The person involved had been removed from the case as soon as it was reported.
The man worked for CapEnglish, a language learning company. The company claims to have immediately suspended him from all activities with students after being informed of the accusations by the school administration. The company also maintains that the background checks required during his recruitment had been carried out and that nothing known at that time prevented him from working with minors.
The case has reignited the debate surrounding the oversight of external contractors who work daily with very young children in schools. Beyond the criminal investigation, the inquiry will need to clarify the circumstances under which the alleged events may have occurred and determine whether any warning signs were detected earlier. CapEnglish, for its part, states that it is fully cooperating with investigators and has committed to providing them with all relevant information for the proceedings.
Aaron Gardner, 36, from Jersey, was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years at the Royal Court.
Progress in Romania in implementing the Istanbul Convention, but further action is needed to combat violence against women
Provision of space in shelters for victims of domestic violence has been expanded in RomaniaRomania has taken important legislative and policy steps in recent years to prevent and combat gender-based violence. However, urgent action is still needed in certain areas to protect women and comply with the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the “Istanbul Convention”.
These are the key conclusions of the first thematic evaluation report on Romania issued by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), assessing progress in delivering support, protection and justice to victims.
Positive steps in legislation and policies to protect women
GREVIO welcomes the introduction of landmark legislation, notably the Law on preventing and combating femicide and the forms of violence preceding it, which establishes a legal definition of femicide and sets out mechanisms to prevent gender-related killings of women. Another positive development is the adoption of the National Strategy for promoting equal opportunities and treatment between women and men and for preventing and combating domestic violence (2022–27), which addresses gender stereotypes and foresees wide-ranging measures to promote equality
The report also recognises the contribution of the National Agency for equal opportunities between women and men in policy design and coordination and in awareness raising on gender equality and domestic violence. Romanian authorities have made improvements in the education on equality between women and men in schools, as well as the training of relevant professionals who deal with women victims of domestic violence. The number of shelters for victims of domestic violence has been expanded, the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images criminalised, and the scope of protection orders extended beyond domestic violence to cover threats, stalking and various forms of online violence.
Need for increased funding and stronger support services
Despite this progress, GREVIO identifies critical areas requiring further action. Romania still lacks a harmonised system for collecting comprehensive administrative data across law enforcement, judicial, healthcare and social sectors. Specialist support services for victims and programmes for perpetrators need adequate and sustainable funding and must be expanded.
GREVIO also considers that the number and geographical coverage of services for victims are inadequate, and administrative barriers persist for women seeking shelter. The report also highlights a pressing need to establish “one-stop-shop” facilities for women victims of rape providing medical, psychological, forensic and counselling support free of charge and in a victim centred, trauma informed manner.
Concern about judicial proceedings regarding child custody after domestic violence
GREVIO expresses serious concerns about the protection of children in family law proceedings. It finds that incidents of domestic violence should be systematically taken into account in custody and visitation decisions, and recommends the removal from the legislation of the concept of parental alienation or similar concepts, which risk discrediting women’s legitimate reports of domestic violence and undermining children’s well-founded reluctance to maintain contact with an abusive parent.
Lastly, regarding criminal justice, GREVIO calls on the authorities to strengthen investigations and prosecutions of cases of violence against women and domestic violence, as well as the enforcement of protection orders, to build trust and ensure that women are effectively protected from further violence.
The report has been published alongside comments from the Romanian authorities.
Germany records rise in sexual violence against children
Leonie Kirschstein knew that the number of sexual violence cases involving children and adolescents would not decline. The psychologist works for the registered nonprofit Zartbitter e.V., which has served as a support center for young victims in city of Cologne in western Germany for nearly four decades. This pioneering organization counsels victims, conducts educational outreach in schools and even stages plays on the topic of sexual violence.
Kirschstein, who has worked for Zartbitter for three years, told DW that the number of unreported cases was much higher: "Crime statistics only include cases that have been reported to the police. But not the ones we deal with every day, such as cases involving peer violence. In many cases, these aren't reported at all, especially when the children are still very young. This group makes up the largest portion of the cases we handle in our counseling process."
Victims of sexual violence in every classroom
The issue of sexual violence is more topical than ever: The World Health Organization estimates that up to 1 million children and adolescents in Germany have experienced or are currently undergoing sexual violence at the hands of adults.
This means that, on average, in every German school classroom, there are one to two children who are victims of sexual violence. Kirschstein, who specializes in psychotherapy with children and adolescents, says: "We receive new cases every day; parents, in particular, call for an initial consultation. Unfortunately, I still very often find the victims wonder whether they themselves did something wrong — that is, whether they said 'no' explicitly and whether their refusal was understood as such by the perpetrator."
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt wants to retain IP addresses
Leonie Kirschstein's observations align with the "Federal Assessment of Sexual Offenses Against Children and Adolescents 2025," which was released on July 21 in Berlin.
It states that the number of cases of sexual abuse of children and adolescents remains alarmingly high and has even risen in many areas. The number of sexual abuse offenses against minors under the age of 14 alone rose to 17,126 cases from 16,354 in 2024.
New record highs have also been reached for crimes involving "child pornography" and for the sexual abuse of children without physical contact.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is sounding the alarm: "The high number of cases of sexual abuse of children and adolescents shows that we must protect our children even better — especially in the digital world," he said. "Perpetrators must not be allowed to feel safe and hide in the anonymity of the internet. In the fight against these repugnant crimes, our law enforcement agencies need effective tools such as IP address logging — to identify perpetrators, prosecute them consistently, and put an end to active abuse," Dobrindt told the media.
BKA President warns of 'cybergrooming'
To better prosecute cybercrime, the federal government is currently pushing for a law allowing the retention of IP addresses for three months. Dobrindt is confident that such a law could be passed as early as this fall. He has also called for the establishment of the post of European Commissioner for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents.
Holger Münch, the president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), meanwhile, has warned against "cybergrooming." This refers to adults deliberately contacting children and adolescents online to initiate sexual contact.
"More than 98% of all perpetrators are male, with an average age of about 24; the victims are predominantly female and, on average, just under 12 years old. The primary risk factor is a lack of awareness of the risks associated with one's own online behavior. While teenage perpetrators tend to act out of boredom or just to pass the time, adult perpetrators often have sexual motives and specifically target minors," Münch said, adding that this often leads to a subsequent meeting and abuse.
Young people lack adequate legal protection
Independent Federal Commissioner Against Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents Kerstin Claus is calling for better protection, especially for teenagers in Germany
"Instances of 'sextortion' are increasing dramatically, and cybergrooming affects nearly one in three people between the ages of 14 and 17," she said. "And yet it is not currently categorized as a criminal offense."
What is not a criminal offense does not appear in statistics, and what is not counted there is not combated, Claus said. "That is why adolescents must be protected from cybergrooming, and sextortion must be classified as a distinct sexual offense. The federal situation report cannot even begin to reflect the true extent of the sexual violence to which young people are exposed online every day," she warned.
This article has been translated from German.
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