PARIS — France's National Assembly unanimously adopted a landmark bill late Wednesday, January 28, 2026, aimed at officially recognizing and providing reparations for the harm suffered by more than 2,000 children from La Réunion island who were forcibly relocated to mainland France between 1962 and 1984. The proposal, known as the "Enfants de la Creuse" bill, addresses a long-suppressed chapter of French colonial and post-colonial history involving state-organized child displacements.
The legislation, sponsored by Réunion deputy Karine Lebon (GDR group—communists and overseas territories), passed with cross-party support in the hemicycle. It establishes a remembrance commission to document the events and preserve survivor testimonies, designates February 18 as a national day of tribute, and introduces a statutory right to compensation in the form of a lump-sum payment, with the exact amount to be set by decree.
Speaking emotionally during the debate, Lebon told lawmakers: "We do not have the power to give them back their childhood … but we do have the power to confront history." She described the vote as a step toward national recognition rather than mere consolation, noting the presence of dozens of now-adult survivors in the public galleries who had traveled from Réunion and other parts of France to witness the moment.
The policy in question, orchestrated by French authorities under the Bureau de Migration de l'Île de la Réunion (created in 1963), involved transferring vulnerable or orphaned children—often from poor or large families—from the Indian Ocean overseas department to rural mainland regions, particularly the Creuse department in central France, but also to 83 other departments. The stated aims were to alleviate Réunion's rapid population growth (which doubled in 30 years) and to repopulate declining rural areas with young labor. In practice, many children faced separation from siblings, cultural dislocation, exploitation as farm workers, and reports of abuse or neglect in foster placements.
Survivors, now in their 50s to 80s, have long campaigned for acknowledgment, describing the relocations as forced deportations that caused lifelong trauma, identity loss, and family ruptures. The scandal gained renewed attention through survivor testimonies, media investigations, and advocacy by groups such as the Collectif des Enfants de la Creuse.
The bill's adoption follows its unanimous approval in the Social Affairs Committee on January 20, 2026, backed by 120 co-signatories across political groups. Lebon's text had been inscribed on the Assembly agenda after sustained lobbying and earlier setbacks in scheduling.
The measure responds to calls for moral and material repair, including public apologies, educational inclusion in school curricula, and the potential creation of a memory site in the Creuse. While the financial compensation mechanism remains to be detailed by regulation, it is intended to cover a range of harms, from emotional distress to lost opportunities.
The vote marks a significant step toward historical accountability for France's overseas territories, aligning with broader efforts to confront colonial legacies. It also echoes recent European and international resolutions urging redress for past child welfare abuses.
The bill now advances to the Senate for further examination. If passed without major amendments, it would become law, providing formal recognition and tangible support to survivors.
For many affected individuals and their families, the unanimous adoption represents a long-awaited acknowledgment of suffering inflicted under the guise of social policy. As one survivor group stated, the law opens the door to healing and justice, ensuring the "Enfants de la Creuse" are no longer erased from France's national narrative.
