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{{Short description|French state agency that monitors cults}}
{{Cleanup|date=October 2007}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
'''MIVILUDES''' (an acronym for the [[French language|French-language]] phrase ''Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires'', i.e. "Interministerial Mission for Monitoring and Combatting Cultic Deviances"), a [[France|French]] [[government agency]], has the task of:
{{multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=December 2016}}
{{primary sources|date=September 2014}}
}}


The '''MIVILUDES''' ('''''Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires'''''; '''Interministerial Mission of Vigilance and Combat against Sectarian Drifts''') is a French [[government agency]] created by [[presidential decree]] in 2002. It is charged with observing and analyzing the phenomenon of cult movements, coordinating the government response, informing the public about the risks arising from sectarian aberrations, and facilitating the implementation of actions to aid the victims.<ref name="Report 2003">{{Cite web |last=MIVILUDES |date=2003 |title=Report to the Prime Minister: Sectarian Aberrations |url=https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2003.pdf |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=MIVILUDES}}</ref>
* observing and analyzing movements perceived <!-- perceived by whom exactly ? --> as constituting a threat to public order or that violate French law
* coordinating the appropriate response
* informing the public about potential risks
* helping victims to receive aid


==Functions==
The mission of MIVILUDES involves analysing "the phenomenon of movements with a cultic character whose actions affront the rights of man and fundamental liberties, or which constitute a threat to public order or which are contrary to the laws and regulations".<ref>
According to the first article of the Decree Number 2002–1392 of 28 November 2002, the MIVILUDES is charged with:
From the ''[[Journal Officiel de la République Française|Journal Officiel]]'' of 28 November 2002, quoted in http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_interministérielle_de_vigilance_et_de_lutte_contre_les_dérives_sectaires : ''Sa mission est définie officiellement (dans le Journal Officiel du 28 novembre 2002) comme étant d'analyser « le phénomène des mouvements à caractère sectaire dont les agissements sont attentatoires aux droits de l'homme et aux libertés fondamentales ou constituent une menace à l'ordre public ou sont contraires aux lois et règlements ».''
# Observing and analyzing the phenomenon of sectarian movements whose practices are prejudicial to [[human rights]] and basic liberties, constitute a menace to public order, or are in conflict with existing laws and regulations;
</ref>
# Favoring, in the respect of public liberties, the coordination of preventive and repressive action by the authorities against such practices;
# Developing the exchange of information between public services on administrative practices relating to the combat against sectarian aberrations;
# Contributing to the informing and training of public agents in this area;
# Informing the public about the risks and, in some cases, the dangers, arising from sectarian aberrations, and facilitating the implementation of actions to aid the victims of such practices;
# Participating in activities relating to issues falling within its scope undertaken at the international level by the ministry of foreign affairs.<ref name="Report 2003" />


⚫
MIVILUDES provides information related to "[[cult]]ic deviances" to the media, the French government, and individual members of the public. It recommends contacts and other organizations, and produces and archives documentation and discussion papers on groups considered cults.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MIVILUDES |title=Plan du site |url=http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=plan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101013811/http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=plan |archive-date=1 November 2007 |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=MIVILUDES}}</ref>
MIVILUDES originated in a [[President of the French Republic|president]]ial decree on 28 November 2002. [[Jean-Louis Langlais]], a senior civil-servant at the [[Ministry of the Interior]], served as its president from 2002 to 2005.<ref name="miviludes.gouv.fr">[http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?article138&iddiv=2 Mission Interministérielle de VIgilance et de LUtte contre les DÉrives Sectaires<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Jean-Michel Roulet became president of MIVILUDES in October 2005.<ref name="miviludes.gouv.fr"/> In 2008, [[Georges Fenech]] became president of MIVILUDES.<ref>[http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/-Historique-?iddiv=2 Historique]//La MIVILUDES</ref>


== History ==
In its announcement{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} of the formation of MIVILUDES, the French government acknowledged that the predecessor of MIVILUDES, MILS (the ''Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les sectes'' or "Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Cults"), had received criticism from outside France for certain actions potentially interpretable as contrary to [[religious freedom]]. The decree establishing MIVILUDES<ref>[http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique162&iddiv=1 Mission Interministérielle de VIgilance et de LUtte contre les DÉrives Sectaires<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Background===
referred to MILS only indirectly in announcing the abrogation (in Article 8) of the decree establishing MILS.
⚫
The French authorities created MIVILUDES as the successor to MILS (''Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les sectes''; English: "Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Cults"), which itself functioned from 7 October 1998 as the successor to the ''Observatoire interministériel sur les sectes'' established on 9 May 1996. These organizations were in charge of coordinating government monitoring of [[Cult|cults]].


In February 1998, MILS, headed by [[Alain Vivien]], released its annual report on their monitoring of cults in France. The operations of MILS, and Vivien's background as the head of an [[Anti-cult movement|anti-cult]] organization (he had served as President of the [[Centre Roger Ikor]] from 1997 to 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccmm.asso.fr/index.php3 |title=Centre de documentation, d'éducation et d'action Contre les Manipulations Mentales |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127111947/http://www.ccmm.asso.fr/index.php3 |archive-date=27 January 2007 }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2022|reason=Vivien was not mentioned on the archived page}}), had occasionally received criticism from several [[Human rights|human-rights]] organizations, such as the [[International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Rhodes |first=Aaron |date=15 June 2000 |title=Open Letter to Alain Vivien about Religious Freedom in France |url=http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewhtml.php?doc_id=1797 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050504010205/http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewhtml.php?doc_id=1797 |archive-date=4 May 2005 |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights}}</ref> as well as the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]],{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} a U.S. government agency. In January 1999, Vivien requested and received police protection following threats and the [[burglary]] of his home.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 1999 |title=Sectes: Alain Vivien placé sous protection policière |url=http://www.humanite.fr/journal/1999-01-14/1999-01-14-441385 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050430103350/http://www.humanite.fr/journal/1999-01-14/1999-01-14-441385 |archive-date=30 April 2005 |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=l'Humanité}}</ref> Vivien resigned in June 2002 under criticism.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alain Vivien Resigns from President of the French Anti-Cult Mission - Alain Vivien démissionne de la présidence de la MILS |url=https://www.cesnur.org/2002/fr_vivien.htm |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=www.cesnur.org}}</ref>
⚫
In an interview given in March 2003, Langlais emphasized the fight not against "sects" ([[cult]]s), but against "sectarian deviances". He stated that "current French law" lacks a definition for a "sect" and, therefore "the law cannot define sectarian deviances". Nevertheless he portrayed the role of MIVILUDES as contributing "to defining what could simply be an administrative jurisprudence".<ref>
'France and "cults": a new orientation' - Interview with Jean-Louis Langlais, by Willy Fautré. ''Compass Direct'', 5 April 2003. [http://www.religioscope.info/article_138.shtml Available online; retrieved 2007-01-28 ]</ref>


== Activities ==
===MIVILUDES===
The MIVILUDES was created by a decree<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 November 2002 |title=Décret n°2002-1392 du 28 novembre 2002 instituant une mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000234077&categorieLien=id |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr}}</ref> of [[President of the French Republic|President]] [[Jacques Chirac]] on 28 November 2002.<ref name="historique">{{Cite web |title=Historique {{!}} MIVILUDES |url=https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/missions/historique |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr}}</ref> Jean-Louis Langlais, a senior civil-servant at the [[Ministry of the Interior]], served as its president from 2002 to 2005. Announcing the formation of MIVILUDES, the French government acknowledged the criticism that MILS had received from outside France for certain activities that could be considered in violation of [[religious freedom]]. Then this decree repealed the decree of 7 October 1998 establishing MILS.


⚫
In an interview in March 2003, Langlais categorized the fight as not against "sects", but against "sectarian deviances". He stated that current French law lacks a definition for a "sect" and, therefore "the law cannot define sectarian deviances". Nevertheless, he portrayed the role of MIVILUDES as contributing to "defining what could simply be an administrative jurisprudence".<ref>{{Cite web |title=France and 'cults': a new orientation – Interview with Jean-Louis Langlais |url=https://english.religion.info/2003/04/15/france-and-cults-a-new-orientation-interview-with-jean-louis-langlais/ |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=english.religion.info}}</ref>
⚫
MIVILUDES provides information related to "cultic deviances" to the media, to the French government, and to individuals. It recommends contacts and other organizations, and produces and archives documentation and discussion-papers on groups considered cults.<ref>[http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=plan Mission Interministérielle de VIgilance et de LUtte contre les DÉrives Sectaires<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


A 2004 report by the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] concluded with an assessment that the restructuring of the main French agency concerned with this issue – referring to MILS being replaced by MIVILUDES – had improved religious freedoms in France.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Commission on International Religious Freedom |date=May 2004 |title=Annual Report of the United States Commission On International Religious Freedom |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/resources/stories/PDFs/annualreport2004may.pdf |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=USCIRF}}</ref>
== Chronology ==


The [[prefect]] Jean-Michel Roulet became president of MIVILUDES in October 2005, followed by the [[judge]] [[Georges Fenech]] in October 2008 and the [[physician]] [[Serge Blisko]] in August 2012.<ref name='historique'/>
⚫
The French authorities set up MIVILUDES as the successor to MILS (''Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les sectes'' or "Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Cults"), which itself functioned from 7 October 1998 as the successor to the ''Observatoire interministériel sur les sectes'' established on 9 May 1996.


== Publications ==
The "Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Cults" (MILS) headed by [[Alain Vivien]], formed to coordinate government monitoring of ''sectes'' (the French word for "cults"). In February 1998 MILS released its annual report on the monitoring of cults. The activities of the MILS and Alain Vivien's background as the head of an [[Anti-Cult Movement|anti-cult organization]] (he served as President of the [[Centre Roger Ikor]] ([http://www.ccmm.asso.fr/index.php3 Centre de documentation, d'éducation et d'action Contre les Manipulations Mentales] from 1997 to 1998) occasioned criticism from several human-rights organizations, such as the [[International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights]];<ref>
Each year, the MIVILUDES published a report on its activities and a thematic study. Some of them were translated into English:
{{cite web |url=http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewhtml.php?doc_id=1797|title=Open Letter to Alain Vivien about Religious Freedom in France |date=June 15, 2000}}
* [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2003.pdf Annual Report 2003]
</ref>
* [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2004.pdf Annual Report 2004]
as well as from the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]]{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} (a government agency of the United States of America). (See also [[About-Picard law#Reactions]]). In January 1999 Vivien requested and received police protection following threats and the burglary of his home.<ref>
* [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2007.pdf Annual Report 2007]
[[L'Humanité]], January 14, 1999; http://www.humanite.fr/journal/1999-01-14/1999-01-14-441385
* [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2008.pdf Annual Report 2008]
</ref>

Vivien resigned in June 2002 under criticism.<ref>
[http://www.cesnur.org/2002/fr_vivien.htm Alain Vivien Resigns from President of the French Anti-Cult Mission]
</ref>

The 2004 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, concluded with an assessment that the restructuring of the main French agency concerned with this issue — referring to the new MIVILUDES replacing its predecessor, the ''Mission Interministérielle pour la Lutte contre les Sectes'' [Interministerial Commission to Combat the Cults] (MILS) — had reportedly improved religious freedoms in France.<ref>
[http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/publications/currentreport/2004annualRpt.pdf United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]
</ref>

On 27 May 2005 (just before he left office), the then [[Prime Minister of France]], [[Jean-Pierre Raffarin]], issued a ''[[circulaire]]'' on cultic activities in France. He called for increased vigilance and activity from public servants and indicated that the list of cults published on the parliamentary report had become less pertinent because of the way in which cults had evolved, and that in certain circumstances public servants should substitute specific criteria.

<blockquote>
Cette vigilance doit s'exercer en tenant compte de l'évolution du phénomène sectaire, qui rend la liste de mouvements annexée au rapport parlementaire de 1995 de moins en moins pertinente. On constate en effet la formation de petites structures, diffuses, mouvantes et moins aisément identifiables, qui tirent en particulier parti des possibilités de diffusion offertes par l'internet. ['''Translation:''' We must exercise this vigilance in taking account of the evolution of the cult-phenomenon, which makes the list of movements attached to the Parliamentary Report of 1995 less and less pertinent. Indeed, one can observe the formation of small groups, scattered, mobile and less-easily identifiable, and which make use in particular of the possibilities of spreading offered by the Internet.] [...] et le recours à des listes de groupements sera évité au profit de l'utilisation de faisceaux de critères. ['''Translation''': one should avoid lists of groups in favor of the ulitization of specific criteria.]<ref>
[http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=PRMX0508471C ''Circulaire du 27 mai 2005 relative à la lutte contre les dérives sectaires''] (''Circulaire'' of 27 May 2005 concerning the struggle against cultic manifestations)
</ref>
</blockquote>


== See also ==
== See also ==
{{portal|France}}
{{Portal|France}}
* [[Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France]]
* [[Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France]]
* [[Status of religious freedom in France]]
* [[Status of religious freedom in France]]
Line 60: Line 50:


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/ MIVILUDES website]
* {{Official website|https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/}} {{in lang |fr}}
* [http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique135&iddiv=3 Miviludes report 2006]
** [http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Report_Miviludes_2006.pdf English translation of the 2006 MIVILUDES annual report]
* [http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?article129&iddiv=3 Miviludes report 2004]
* [http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?article100&iddiv=3 Miviludes report 2003]


{{Opposition to NRMs}}
{{Opposition to NRMs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{New Religious Movements}}


[[Category:2002 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2002]]
[[Category:Government opposition to new religious movements]]
[[Category:Government opposition to new religious movements]]
[[Category:Church and state law]]
[[Category:French anti-cult organizations and individuals]]
[[Category:Anti-cult organizations and individuals]]
[[Category:Freedom of religion]]
[[Category:Anti-cult organizations]]
[[Category:Political repression in France]]
[[Category:Political repression in France]]
[[Category:Religious policy]]

Latest revision as of 17:47, 18 June 2023

The MIVILUDES (Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires; Interministerial Mission of Vigilance and Combat against Sectarian Drifts) is a French government agency created by presidential decree in 2002. It is charged with observing and analyzing the phenomenon of cult movements, coordinating the government response, informing the public about the risks arising from sectarian aberrations, and facilitating the implementation of actions to aid the victims.[1]

Functions[edit]

According to the first article of the Decree Number 2002–1392 of 28 November 2002, the MIVILUDES is charged with:

  1. Observing and analyzing the phenomenon of sectarian movements whose practices are prejudicial to human rights and basic liberties, constitute a menace to public order, or are in conflict with existing laws and regulations;
  2. Favoring, in the respect of public liberties, the coordination of preventive and repressive action by the authorities against such practices;
  3. Developing the exchange of information between public services on administrative practices relating to the combat against sectarian aberrations;
  4. Contributing to the informing and training of public agents in this area;
  5. Informing the public about the risks and, in some cases, the dangers, arising from sectarian aberrations, and facilitating the implementation of actions to aid the victims of such practices;
  6. Participating in activities relating to issues falling within its scope undertaken at the international level by the ministry of foreign affairs.[1]

MIVILUDES provides information related to "cultic deviances" to the media, the French government, and individual members of the public. It recommends contacts and other organizations, and produces and archives documentation and discussion papers on groups considered cults.[2]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

The French authorities created MIVILUDES as the successor to MILS (Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les sectes; English: "Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Cults"), which itself functioned from 7 October 1998 as the successor to the Observatoire interministériel sur les sectes established on 9 May 1996. These organizations were in charge of coordinating government monitoring of cults.

In February 1998, MILS, headed by Alain Vivien, released its annual report on their monitoring of cults in France. The operations of MILS, and Vivien's background as the head of an anti-cult organization (he had served as President of the Centre Roger Ikor from 1997 to 1998[3][failed verification]), had occasionally received criticism from several human-rights organizations, such as the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights,[4] as well as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom,[citation needed] a U.S. government agency. In January 1999, Vivien requested and received police protection following threats and the burglary of his home.[5] Vivien resigned in June 2002 under criticism.[6]

MIVILUDES[edit]

The MIVILUDES was created by a decree[7] of President Jacques Chirac on 28 November 2002.[8] Jean-Louis Langlais, a senior civil-servant at the Ministry of the Interior, served as its president from 2002 to 2005. Announcing the formation of MIVILUDES, the French government acknowledged the criticism that MILS had received from outside France for certain activities that could be considered in violation of religious freedom. Then this decree repealed the decree of 7 October 1998 establishing MILS.

In an interview in March 2003, Langlais categorized the fight as not against "sects", but against "sectarian deviances". He stated that current French law lacks a definition for a "sect" and, therefore "the law cannot define sectarian deviances". Nevertheless, he portrayed the role of MIVILUDES as contributing to "defining what could simply be an administrative jurisprudence".[9]

A 2004 report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom concluded with an assessment that the restructuring of the main French agency concerned with this issue – referring to MILS being replaced by MIVILUDES – had improved religious freedoms in France.[10]

The prefect Jean-Michel Roulet became president of MIVILUDES in October 2005, followed by the judge Georges Fenech in October 2008 and the physician Serge Blisko in August 2012.[8]

Publications[edit]

Each year, the MIVILUDES published a report on its activities and a thematic study. Some of them were translated into English:

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b MIVILUDES (2003). "Report to the Prime Minister: Sectarian Aberrations" (PDF). MIVILUDES. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  2. ^ MIVILUDES. "Plan du site". MIVILUDES. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Centre de documentation, d'éducation et d'action Contre les Manipulations Mentales". Archived from the original on 27 January 2007.
  4. ^ Rhodes, Aaron (15 June 2000). "Open Letter to Alain Vivien about Religious Freedom in France". International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Archived from the original on 4 May 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Sectes: Alain Vivien placé sous protection policière". l'Humanité. 14 January 1999. Archived from the original on 30 April 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Alain Vivien Resigns from President of the French Anti-Cult Mission - Alain Vivien démissionne de la présidence de la MILS". www.cesnur.org. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Décret n°2002-1392 du 28 novembre 2002 instituant une mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires". www.legifrance.gouv.fr. 28 November 2002. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Historique | MIVILUDES". www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  9. ^ "France and 'cults': a new orientation – Interview with Jean-Louis Langlais". english.religion.info. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Annual Report of the United States Commission On International Religious Freedom" (PDF). USCIRF. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. May 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MIVILUDES&oldid=1160772075"