Accused of sexual assault: The Emmaus Switzerland Federation distances itself from Abbé Pierre

The Emmaus Switzerland Federation (FES) condemns the sexual violence attributed to Abbé Pierre, icon of the fight against poor housing, who died in 2007. It will no longer use his image, as a sign of solidarity with all the victims.

“Without denying the history of the Emmaus movement, the FES condemns these unspeakable facts and distances itself from the figure of Abbé Pierre, its founder,” said the Swiss Emmaus Federation (FES) in a press release on Monday, following an extraordinary general meeting held on October 15 in Bern.

The FES underlines that it will no longer use the image of Abbé Pierre nor his quotes in its communication materials, “as a sign of solidarity with all victims of sexist and sexual violence”. It invites its members to do the same.

The FES provides its unreserved support for the victims and notes their courage in having provided their testimony. It announces that it has launched a training program for its members, particularly on the issue of gender-based and sexual violence, as well as the fight against all forms of discrimination.

The new revelations about Abbé Pierre were made public last July in Paris in a report published by Emmaüs International, Emmaüs France and the Abbé Pierre Foundation.

Abbé Pierre, whose real name is Henri Grouès, is accused of sexual assault by several women. These announcements led institutions to remove the name of this man of the Church beloved by the French from streets, squares or schools.

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