ISTANBUL

As France awaits the verdict in the landmark trial of former surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, victims and child protection advocates are calling on the government to take urgent action to prevent future child sexual abuse scandals on Tuesday.

Le Scouarnec, accused of sexually abusing 299 children over a span of 25 years, has been on trial since February in what is considered one of the largest child sex abuse cases in the country’s history.

The final ruling is expected on Wednesday, France 24 reported.

Outside the courthouse in Vannes, western France, victims and activists gathered last week, displaying symbolic objects, children’s clothes, toys, and notebooks, laid out like a crime scene to raise awareness about the scale of the abuse and the need for political action.

"Despite how difficult this trial is for us, we are obliged to put our energy into making ourselves heard," said Manon Lemoine, who is one of the victims.

Victims have also asked the government to establish a committee including representatives from the health and justice ministries, as well as the children’s commissioner, to draw lessons from the case. But so far, they say, there has been no official response.

Experts warn that the Le Scouarnec case has exposed major failings. Despite a 2005 conviction for possession of child pornography, the surgeon continued practicing without restrictions, even receiving a promotion. Warnings from colleagues, including a psychiatrist, were ignored.

France has since toughened penalties for child pornography possession and introduced measures to keep offenders away from minors. But advocates say more is needed, including mandatory, repeated background checks for all professionals working with children and stronger protections for whistleblowers.

"The Order of Physicians should have acted much earlier," said Martine Brousse, head of the child protection organization La Voix de l’Enfant.

“We must prevent predators from ever accessing children again," Brousse said.

Solene Podevin-Favre, co-director of the national child abuse commission Ciivise, added, "We pile up individual measures, but without a coordinated child protection policy, we fall short."

As the verdict nears, victims hope the trial will bring long-overdue changes.