On the occasion of International Children's Rights Day, France 2 is broadcasting this Wednesday, November 20, Signalements, a film directed by Eric Metayer and hosted by Cécile Bois. Discover the terrible true story that inspired the film.
119 is the national number dedicated to the prevention and protection of children in danger or at risk of being in danger: https://www.allo119.gouv.fr/
The following story contains descriptions that may offend our most sensitive readers.
Behind a poignant film there is often a terrible true story. This is the case of Signalements, the film by Eric Métayer (Les chatouilles) broadcast this Wednesday, November 20 on France 2.
Inspired by the autobiographical book by Karine and Laurence Brunet-Jambu, Signalements tells us the fierce fight of an aunt ready to do anything to save her niece from her parents' mistreatment.
Despite multiple reports and alerts issued to the authorities, child welfare officials and the justice system kept the little girl in a toxic and brutal family environment. It is only after years of struggle that Laurence is so much a warning about the failures of child protection.
The terrible true story that inspired the film
Karine went through hell from the first minutes of her life. Born in 1997 to a mother convicted of infanticide – she killed her first child with 180 stab wounds – Karine suffered the worst atrocities during her childhood. Beats, insults, deprivation, repeated death threats… nothing will be spared.
In 2002, the situation got even worse. Karine was only five years old when her parents decided to take in a pedophile who had just served a prison sentence for raping minors, including her own daughter. For three years, Karine was raped more than 300 times under her parents' roof.
Although they surprise her several times in bed with her attacker, Karine's parents turn a blind eye, allowing themselves to be bribed with alcohol and cigarettes. They even went so far as to threaten their daughter to keep her silent.
Throughout these years, Karine was often found sleeping on the doormat in front of her apartment door, seen wandering the streets alone at night and developed, through trauma, hypersexualized behavior for her age.
Teachers and neighbors are increasing the alerts. In vain. Childhood professionals will unfortunately turn a blind eye to this little girl's ordeal. Abandoned by everyone, Karine can however count on the support of her aunt Laurence who will lead a fierce fight to save her.
In total, it took 14 reports of abuse and rape before Karine was removed from her family, not counting the many years for her to find the courage to speak. Laurence, who would have given everything to save his niece, finally adopted her in 2015, when she came of age.
It was only in 2018 that Karine's rapist was sentenced to 30 years of criminal imprisonment for the rapes she suffered and those of 14 other victims. Finally, Karine's parents were found guilty of witness tampering. As a result, the father was sentenced to 3 years in prison while the mother received a 2-year suspended sentence.
In 2021, Karine had the State convicted of gross negligence and denial of justice.
Reports strongly denounces the dysfunctions of the child protection system and raises crucial questions about collective responsibility in the face of such tragedies. A fight which ultimately lasted 20 years for Laurence and Karine Brunet-Jambu. The film will be followed by a debate “How to protect children in danger?” presented by Carole Gaessler, in the presence of Karine and Laurence Brunet-Jambu.
Remember that 119, a free and anonymous national number, is available to report any violence, whether psychological, physical or sexual, suffered by a child.
