# MIVILUDES

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French state agency that monitors cults

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MIVILUDES Agency overview Formed 2002; 24 years ago (2002) Headquarters France Website miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr

The **Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and Action Against Sectarian Aberrations** (*Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires*, **MIVILUDES**) is a French [government agency](/source/Government_agency) created by [presidential decree](/source/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

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](/source/Human_rights) and basic liberties, constitute a menace to public order, or are in conflict with existing laws and regulations;

1. Favouring, in the respect of public liberties, the coordination of preventive and repressive action by the authorities against such practices;

1. Developing the exchange of information between public services on administrative practices relating to the combat against sectarian aberrations;

1. Contributing to the informing and training of public agents in this area;

1. 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;

1. 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](/source/Cult) 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.[2]

## 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 [cults](/source/Cult).

In February 1998, MILS, headed by [Alain Vivien](/source/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](/source/Anti-cult_movement) organization (he had served as President of the [Centre Roger Ikor](/source/Centre_Roger_Ikor) from 1997 to 1998[3][*[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)*]), had occasionally received criticism from several [human-rights](/source/Human_rights) organizations, such as the [International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights](/source/International_Helsinki_Federation_for_Human_Rights),[4] as well as the [United States Commission on International Religious Freedom](/source/United_States_Commission_on_International_Religious_Freedom),[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] a U.S. government agency. In January 1999, Vivien requested and received police protection following threats and the [burglary](/source/Burglary) of his home.[5] Vivien resigned in June 2002 under criticism.[6]

### MIVILUDES

The MIVILUDES was created by a decree[7] of [President](/source/President_of_the_French_Republic) [Jacques Chirac](/source/Jacques_Chirac) on 28 November 2002.[8] Jean-Louis Langlais, a senior civil servant at the [Ministry of the Interior](/source/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](/source/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".[9]

A 2004 report by the [United States Commission on International Religious Freedom](/source/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](/source/Prefect) Jean-Michel Roulet became president of MIVILUDES in October 2005, followed by the [judge](/source/Judge) [Georges Fenech](/source/Georges_Fenech) in October 2008 and the [physician](/source/Physician) [Serge Blisko](/source/Serge_Blisko) in August 2012.[8]

## Publications

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

- [Annual Report 2003](https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2003.pdf)

- [Annual Report 2004](https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2004.pdf)

- [Annual Report 2007](https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2007.pdf)

- [Annual Report 2008](https://www.derives-sectes.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2008.pdf)

## See also

- [France portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:France)

- [Cult](/source/Cult)

- [Cult Information Centre](/source/Cult_Information_Centre)

- [Decult Conference](/source/Decult_Conference)

- [European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Sectarianism](/source/European_Federation_of_Centres_of_Research_and_Information_on_Sectarianism)

- [New religious movement](/source/New_religious_movement)

- [Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France](/source/Parliamentary_Commission_on_Cults_in_France)

- [Status of religious freedom in France](/source/Status_of_religious_freedom_in_France)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Report_2003_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Report_2003_1-1) MIVILUDES (2003). ["Report to the Prime Minister: Sectarian Aberrations"](https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/publications/anglais/report_miviludes_2003.pdf) (PDF). *MIVILUDES*. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** MIVILUDES. ["Plan du site"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071101013811/http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=plan). *MIVILUDES*. Archived from [the original](http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=plan) on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Centre de documentation, d'éducation et d'action Contre les Manipulations Mentales"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070127111947/http://www.ccmm.asso.fr/index.php3). Archived from [the original](http://www.ccmm.asso.fr/index.php3) on 27 January 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Rhodes, Aaron (15 June 2000). ["Open Letter to Alain Vivien about Religious Freedom in France"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050504010205/http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewhtml.php?doc_id=1797). *International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewhtml.php?doc_id=1797) on 4 May 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Sectes: Alain Vivien placé sous protection policière"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050430103350/http://www.humanite.fr/journal/1999-01-14/1999-01-14-441385). *l'Humanité*. 14 January 1999. Archived from [the original](http://www.humanite.fr/journal/1999-01-14/1999-01-14-441385) on 30 April 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Alain Vivien Resigns from President of the French Anti-Cult Mission - Alain Vivien démissionne de la présidence de la MILS"](https://www.cesnur.org/2002/fr_vivien.htm). *www.cesnur.org*. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Décret n°2002-1392 du 28 novembre 2002 instituant une mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires"](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000234077&categorieLien=id). *www.legifrance.gouv.fr*. 28 November 2002. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-historique_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-historique_8-1) ["Historique | MIVILUDES"](https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/missions/historique). *www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr*. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["France and 'cults': a new orientation – Interview with Jean-Louis Langlais"](https://english.religion.info/2003/04/15/france-and-cults-a-new-orientation-interview-with-jean-louis-langlais/). *english.religion.info*. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Annual Report of the United States Commission On International Religious Freedom"](https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/resources/stories/PDFs/annualreport2004may.pdf) (PDF). *USCIRF*. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. May 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/) (in French)

v t e Opposition to new religious movements Concepts Anti-cult movement Christian countercult movement Cult Deprogramming Doomsday cult Freedom of religion Heresy Heterodox teaching Mind control New religious movement Secular groups APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Methods of Persuasion and Control Center for Religious Studies in the name of Hieromartyr Irenaeus of Lyons Cult Awareness Network Cult Information Centre Cultists Anonymous International Cultic Studies Association The Family Survival Trust Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales People's Organised Workshop on Ersatz Religion Secular individuals Jean-Marie Abgrall John Gordon Clark Steve Eichel Martin Faiers Leon Festinger Carol Giambalvo Steven Hassan Ian Haworth Galen Kelly Stephen A. Kent Masaki Kito Janja Lalich Michael Langone Saul V. Levine Casey McCann Jesse S. Miller Sayuri Ogawa Ted Patrick Tsutsumi Sakamoto Rick Ross Chris Shelton Margaret Singer Eito Suzuki Alain Vivien Cyril Vosper Louis Jolyon West Lawrence Wollersheim Religious groups Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry Christian Research Institute Dialog Center International Dialogue Ireland Evangelical Ministries to New Religions Institute for Religious Research Personal Freedom Outreach Midwest Christian Outreach New England Institute of Religious Research Reachout Trust Spiritual Counterfeits Project Watchman Fellowship Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center Religious individuals Johannes Aagaard Graham Baldwin Robert M. Bowman Jr. Harold Busséll Gérard Dagon Maurice Davis Alexander Dvorkin Ronald Enroth Mike Garde Robin Garbose Norman Geisler Jan Groenveld Hank Hanegraaff Reinhart Hummel Roger Ikor Bob Larson Paul R. Martin Walter Ralston Martin Robert Passantino Governmental organizations 610 Office European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Sectarianism Centre contre les manipulations mentales Union nationale des associations de défense des familles et de l'individu MIVILUDES Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France Individuals in government Nicolas About Serge Blisko Georges Fenech Ford Greene Stephen Mutch Catherine Picard Kenneth Robinson Paul Rose Tom Sackville Nick Xenophon Historical events About–Picard law Anti-Mormonism Assassination of Shinzo Abe Governmental lists of cults and sects Mass suicide of Heaven's Gate Jason Scott case Arrest of Apollo Quiboloy Persecution of Baháʼís Persecution of Falun Gong Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses The Prohibited and Unlawful Societies and Associations Act Tokyo subway sarin attack Waco siege Publications All Gods Children (book) Another Gospel Bounded Choice Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control Captive Hearts, Captive Minds The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions Churches That Abuse Combating Cult Mind Control Cults: Faith, Healing and Coercion Cults in Our Midst Cults of Unreason Deadly Cults The Incendiaries The Kingdom of the Cults The Making of a Moonie Misunderstanding Cults The New Vigilantes: Deprogrammers, Anti-Cultists, and the New Religions On the Edge: Political Cults Right and Left Recovery from Cults Snapping: America's Epidemic of Sudden Personality Change Strange Gods: The Great American Cult Scare Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism Twisted Scriptures When Prophecy Fails The Wrong Way Home Zealot: A Book About Cults

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST National United States France BnF data Other IdRef

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MIVILUDES](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIVILUDES) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIVILUDES?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.