France strengthens child protection law after Lyhanna death

The murder of 11‑year‑old Lyhanna in an abandoned farm in the Gers department sparked nationwide protests and a crisis for the French government. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the cabinet will add several measures to the existing child‑protection bill ahead of its parliamentary debate on 15 July. The new provisions include mandatory background checks for anyone working with children, a requirement that investigations into crimes against minors be completed within three months, and a dramatic increase in penalties for repeat child‑sex offenders – life imprisonment instead of the current 20‑year maximum. The government also earmarked €2.7 billion a year to fund the expanded programme and pledged to move forward on a broader gender‑based violence bill supported by Assembly President Yaël Braun‑Pivet. Families of victims and opposition parties have criticised the justice system’s resources and demanded further action, while large demonstrations, including a white march in Saint‑Jean d’Angély, drew tens of thousands of participants across France.