Undue Influence: A Multisectoral Approach

Interpretation: French/English

At

the Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation

72, Rue Royale, 1000 Brussels

FECRIS European Conference

Organised in Brussels with the support of its Belgian member association, AVISO – Help for Victims of Undue Influence

Friday, June 20, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Programme

André Frédéric, President of FECRIS and AVISO – Aid to Victims of Undue Influence (Belgium), opens the conference and welcomes participants

 

Janja Lalich, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Founder & CEO of the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion, author[1] (USA)
Thirty-Eight Years in the SECTIVERSE – What Have We Learned?

 

Etienne Jacob, journalist at Le Figaro and author[2] (France)
A Disturbing Report After a Year of Infiltration in France’s Alternative Landscape: Fluctuating, Insidious, and Affecting Everyone!

 

Donatien Le Vaillant, Head of MIVILUDES[3] (France)

 

Dr. Caroline Depuydt, psychiatrist, specialist at Epsylon Clinics, author[4] (Belgium)
What Role Can Loved Ones Play When Someone Is Caught in a Process of Undue influence: Helping Them Escape and Rebuilding Afterward?

 

Raechel Reign, Founder of Surviving Universal UK[5] (United Kingdom)
My Fight Against Spiritual and Ritual Abuse Through My Personal Experience

 

Sister Véronique Margron, O.P., President of the Conference of Religious Men and Women of France (CORREF), author (France)

The Catholic Church in France grapples with abuse and sexual violence in its midst

 

Chloé Andries, journalist and filmmaker specializing in religious topics
Undue Influence Abuse and Catholic Institutions: A Journey into the Heart of Shadowy Areas – From Investigative Journalism to Personal Engagement

 

Ricardo Mendes, former member of the pseudo-Buddhist community Ogyen Kunzang Chöling (OKC), founded by Robert Spatz (Belgium)
Testimony

/…

Lorita Tinelli, psychologist and criminologist, member of FECRIS, founder and president of CeSAP (Centro Studi Abusi Psicologici) based in Bari (Italy)

Results of Research Conducted by Psychologists on the Phenomenon of Undue Influence: How to Help Followers Rebuild?

 

Mirijam Wiedemann, Ministry of Education and Sport, Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
How we handle cases that raise concerns for us in Germany[6]

 

Jean-Pierre Jougla, President of the Scientific Committee of FECRIS (France)
The Solar Temple Cult Case – 30 Years On

 

Conclusions by the PresidentBottom of Form

 

 

[1]Escaping Utopia, Take back your life, Bounded Choice, Crazy therapies, Captive Hearts-Captive minds

[2] La France des Gourus aux éditions du Rocher

[3] Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires

[4]Je me libère des écrans ! – Le guide d’une psychiatre pour maîtriser sa consommation digitale.

[5]Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, of Edir Macedo

[6] Provided text but was held up on the day