France: Eight Survivors Of Sexual Misconduct By Patrick Poivre D'arvor Come Forward

Location: France, Paris
Date: November 16, 2021

Eight women journalists have lifted anonymity from the allegations of sexual misconduct against newsreader Patrick Poivre d'Arvor. The allegations, submitted by at least 22 different women, had long been on public record, but had received little attention because of the anonymous nature of the complaints. The women journalists have now come together to press forth collective charges, naming themselves. The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends support to the eight survivors as well as the 14 other women who remain anonymous. We demand an immediate investigation into the allegations against d'Arvor and urge the French authorities to ensure a safe and conducive environment for women journalists to their jobs.

The allegations against d'Arvor first came to public light in February of this year, when Florence Porcel alleged that he had formed forced sexual relations with her in 2004 and 2009. There was no reckoning for d'Arvor at the time because the judge claimed there was insufficient evidence against him. This was despite the fact that 22 different women came forth with similar accusations. The anonymous nature of these testimonies, however, impacted their potency in court. 

In a television interview in March, d'Arvour also tried to play off these testimonies as concocted. "All of this is always under the cover of anonymity... No-one has dared come forward, face to face to tell me what I did was not acceptable," he had said.

Come November, eight of the 22 women have now lifted the cover of anonymity. The women named themselves in a report, which they published on the predatory nature of d'Arvour's sexual conduct with them. Journalists Stéphanie Khayat, Hélène Devynck and Cécile Thimoreau claim they were survivors of his misconduct in the 1990s while Aude Darlet, Emmanuelle Dancourt and Cécile Delarue say they were targeted between 2002 and 2008.

It has also come to light that the top management of TF1, d'Arvour's employer channel, was made aware of his behaviour at the time, but they did little to address it. The officials at the channel have denied that there were any official complaints against him.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Florence Porcel, Stéphanie Khayat, Hélène Devynck, Cécile Thimoreau, Aude Darlet, Emmanuelle Dancourt and Cécile Delaruehe as well as the several other survivors who remain anonymous. Patrick Poivre d'Arvor's misconduct spans decades yet he has been allowed to operate with impunity. Such cases point to a larger pattern of misogyny and dismissal of women’s voices in the newsroom. Brushing them under the rug not only shields the perpetrator from justice but also emboldens further crimes against women journalists. The channel, journalist community at large and the state must all come together to ensure justice for these survivors. CFWIJ demands immediate action against d'Arvor. Violations against women journalists, especially when at the hands of fellow journalists, must be dealt with swiftly and harshly so such attitudes can be eliminated from the industry altogether.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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