Paris care home staff shaving child's head in 'punishment' sparks outrage

A video of a young boy in a child protection home in France having his head shaved by staff has sparked outrage after it was leaked online.

The video, which was recorded in February at the Jenner Educational Home in central Paris, shows a topless eight-year-old boy having his hair shaved off with one of the educators present indicating it was a “punishment”.

According to public broadcaster Franceinfo, neither the child, named only as Elliot to protect his identity, nor his mother nor the institution’s head had authorised the haircut.

The France 3 Paris Île-de-France television station said it had spoken to a lawyer for the boy’s mother and that she had discovered his head had been shaved during a visit to the home.

She reportedly asked the home for an explanation, and they claimed that the hairdresser had made a mistake.

For several months afterwards, Elliot was permitted to wear a cap in class but was reportedly teased by his classmates.

But in September, his mother discovered the video, which had initially been shared only in a WhatsApp group for educators.

The home then told Elliot’s mother that his hair had to be cut because he had lice, prompting her to refer the case to a family lawyer.

City of Paris refers case to court

The City of Paris, which is ultimately responsible for the home run by the Association Jean Cotxet, said on Tuesday that it was taking the case to court.

"None of the justifications put forward - be it the child's alleged consent, his mother's possible authorisation, or the attempts, which were in any case unverified, to get rid of lice - can legitimise the violence inflicted on him. In view of these unacceptable failings, the City of Paris has decided to refer the matter immediately to the judicial authorities and will also bring a civil action if necessary," a press release read.

Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy and Disabled People, Stéphanie Rist, said in a post on X that she was also referring the matter to the public prosecutor.

She denounced what she called "unacceptable acts" that "seriously undermine the dignity" of the child.

The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into "deliberate violence," and Human Rights Ombudsman Claire Hédon said she was personally handling the case.

Accused educator suspended

The Paris City Council said that "special attention has been paid to the young victim," who reportedly wishes to remain at the Jenner Educational Home because he feels comfortable there.

The staff member who initiated the hair-shaving incident has been suspended by the association that runs the home, which said that the educational team had been "largely overhauled."

Franceinfo also reports that an administrative inspection, requested by the City of Paris, will be conducted at the home on Wednesday.