The final detailed report, which includes many other findings and recommendations, was released on April 9. It revealed shocking statistics on the widespread misogynist, sexist and sexual violence in the French cultural sector. This ambitious 313-page plan was recently adopted by the National Assembly. It stands as the result of an effort spearheaded by actress, filmmaker and climate activist Judith Godrèche. The report’s recommendations come from the 85 hearings. These hearings represented more than 118 hours of testimony with nearly 350 industry representatives.
The conclusions of the report are shocking and disturbing. It finds that this violence in the arts sector is indeed “systemic, endemic and persistent.” Additionally, it characterizes the French industry as a “veritable machine for crushing talent,” shining a spotlight on the desperate need for change. The report is filled with hundreds of long-form testimonials from students, teachers, parents, and others who have lived or seen these issues firsthand.
Urgent Recommendations for Change
The action plan emphasizes its findings by laying out 86 recommendations. All of these proposed changes would better protect artists and create a more positive culture in the industry. Among the Commission’s most controversial and far-reaching recommendations is a proposal to prohibit the sexualization of minors on screen. This action aims to level the playing field against bad faith operators contributing to the widespread exploitation of vulnerable individuals in our industry.
Furthermore, the report urges for greater regulation around the casting process and intimacy on set. These recommendations illustrate there is powerful consensus that today’s practices still fail to protect performers’ safety and wellness. Instead, they foster a culture where abuses are allowed to occur without any consequences.
“Moral, sexist, and sexual violence in the cultural sector is systemic, endemic, and persistent.” – Sandrine Rousseau
These recommendations aren’t just recommendations – they’re a clarion call to action. According to Sandrine Rousseau, a prominent figure in the initiative, “No one will be able to say they didn’t know, no one will be able to refuse to move forward and take action. Turning a blind eye is tantamount to complicity.”
A Shift in Mentality Required
The policy report stresses the importance of a complete shift in mentality from designing and building infrastructure within the industry to bring about real change. Judith Godrèche expressed her disappointment with the status quo, stating, “I’m not surprised because I didn’t expect anything better.” This widespread sentiment illustrates a larger fear that without tangible action, the cycle of abuse will go unbroken.
With these engagements, Rousseau continued to create a strong case for this shift on the ground. She claimed that festivals must be vehicles for transformation. In these spaces, industry participants need to come together to push for a higher floor of behavior.
“The festival must be the place for this change in mentality, where we say loud and clear… that we finally want, all of us… for things to change, because this is not acceptable.” – Sandrine Rousseau
Industry Response and Next Steps
This report is getting wonderful play all through the cultural community. Their ordeal should be over now, and many leaders are indeed actively grappling with what its findings mean for them. Artists and advocates have called attention to these interwoven and insidiously pervasive issues for decades. Their immediate demand to remove these pests strikes a chord with millions.