MIVILUDES

{{Short description|French state agency that monitors cults}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=December 2016}} {{primary sources|date=September 2014}} }} {{Infobox government agency | logo = MIVILUDES logo.png | formed = {{Start date and age|2002}} | headquarters = [[France]] | website = {{URL|miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr}} }}

The '''Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and Action Against Sectarian Aberrations''' ({{Lang|fr|Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires}}, '''MIVILUDES''') 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>

==Functions== According to the first article of the Decree Number 2002–1392 of 28 November 2002, the MIVILUDES is charged with: # 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; # Favouring, 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 aberrations" 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>

== History == ===Background=== The French authorities created MIVILUDES as the successor to MILS (''Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les sectes''; English: "Interministerial Mission for Action Against Cults"), which itself functioned from 7 October 1998 as the successor to the ''Observatoire interministériel sur les sectes'' (English: Interministerial Observatory on Cults) 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>

===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 aberrations". He stated that, since current French law lacks a definition for a "sect", "the law cannot define sectarian aberrations". 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>

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>

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'/>

== Publications == Each year, the MIVILUDES published a report on its activities and a thematic study. Some of them were translated into English: * [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2003.pdf Annual Report 2003] * [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2004.pdf Annual Report 2004] * [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2007.pdf Annual Report 2007] * [https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2008.pdf Annual Report 2008]

== See also == {{Portal|France}} * [[Cult]] * [[Cult Information Centre]] * [[Decult Conference]] * [[European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Sectarianism]] * [[New religious movement]] * [[Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France]] * [[Status of religious freedom in France]]

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/}} {{in lang |fr}}

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