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Image Credit - BBC[/caption]Thousands of people responded to a social media campaign designed to shed light on the sexual harassment within families in France.
More than ten thousand people responded to the #MeTooIncest came after the #MeToo movement. It was started over the weekend by NousToutes which is an organization that fights against sexual violence in France.
The word incest means sexual abuse by relatives, including those who are not related by blood as well.
The movement followed an accusation against the renowned political commentator Olivier Duhamel. He was accused by his stepdaughter of abusing her twin brother 30 years ago. Mr. Duhamel called the allegations "personal attacks".
The Twitter campaign began last week by a NousToutes activist, named Marie Chenevance who is 67 years old.
Marie said, "It was now or never to break the omerta around this issue." ‘Omerta’ is known as the ‘code of silence’ which is sworn by oath.
She further added that the activists have faced ‘wall of silence’ in the earlier years where the victims did not want to talk against their family.
The organization said that more than 80,000 people have responded to the campaign since Saturday.
One of those who shared their story, Mié Kohiyama, also shared a drawing that she made back when she was only five years old. The drawing shows a child with no mouth along with the words ‘Help Me’.
This was the approach of her to speak about the abuse but nobody could understand it back then.
Mié told Marie, "it's strange to say, but I was proud of the little girl who drew this picture” when she posted the picture on Twitter on Saturday.
She further added, "I tell myself that now people can understand these kinds of drawings. Forty years before, it was not possible."
The accusations against Olivier Duhamel created such controversy as his stepdaughter Camille Kouchner has talked about the culture of secrecy in her family.
A leading psychologist, Muriel Salmona is specializing in sexual violence. She said that the issues which have been raised by Camille have opened up a safe space along with the hashtag to speak out.
She said that there has been "almost-total impunity in France" for the family abusers as less than 1% of rape cases against minors end up in court.
Dr. Salmona explained, "The figures on violence against children are bad for most of Europe. But in France, there is a current that tolerates sexual violence against children."
The laws regarding this sensitive issue are quite complex. Even if it’s illegal, in order to prove the crime it is necessary to prove that violence, threat, surprise, or coercion were used.
The campaigners are constantly asking for legal age of consent but the law has not improved.
Marie said, "On the one hand, the stories are sad, but on the other hand, it feels good - it's liberating."
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