More than 200 women have accused Christian Nègre, a French civil servant, of drugging them with substances that caused involuntary urination. Two accusers, Anaïs and Marie-Hélène, shared their experiences, highlighting significant delays and perceived insensitivity within the French justice system.
Anaïs, now 42, first reported her encounter with Nègre to the police in 2019, seven years after the incident. She stated that she received no updates on her case until 2023, despite multiple attempts to contact the authorities. "For four years, I was alone with the knowledge that I was a victim. I didn't know what to do," she said, expressing anger towards the justice system.
Marie-Hélène described the waiting period as "secondary victimisation," noting the burden of having to prove the psychological impact of the alleged assaults, including obtaining psychiatric evaluations and detailed documentation. She feels that victims are not always taken seriously, and the protracted legal process exacerbates the trauma.
The Fondation des Femmes, a women's rights organization, is supporting approximately 30 affected women. According to the group, the alleged perpetrator has continued to work in human resources during the investigation period.
Kalliopi Mingeirou of UN Women commented on the broader issue, stating that governments, police, and justice systems must improve their response to drug-facilitated sexual assaults. She indicated that significant challenges and delays in such cases are having devastating effects on victims' lives.
Both Anaïs and Marie-Hélène spoke out publicly to support other potential victims and to encourage reporting. Marie-Hélène emphasized the importance of overcoming shame and speaking out against sexist and sexual violence. The BBC reached out to French police, the judiciary, and the government for comment on the criticisms but received no response.
Toxicology labs in France are now reportedly searching for diuretics as part of routine testing in response to such allegations. The slow pace of Nègre's case, which has been in the legal system for 15 years since Anaïs's initial encounter, has left victims feeling abandoned and angry.