France responds to ‘excessive’ UN criticism of alleged police racism

The state of France described as “excessive” and “unfounded” the accusations issued by a UN committee of experts, which denounced alleged racial discrimination and disproportionate use of force by security forces during recent unrest in the country. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued a declaration of urgency in which it pointed out “the excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies”, and called on France to implement legislation prohibiting “racial profiling”. In response, the French Foreign Ministry assured that “any measure of racial profiling by the forces of order is prohibited in France,” guaranteeing that any act of proven discrimination will receive sanctions at both the “administrative and judicial” levels. Unrest erupted across the country following the tragic death of Nahel, a 17-year-old boy who was shot dead by a policeman during a police checkpoint. The incident sparked nights of violence in several localities and reignited the debate about police violence. Amid rising social tension, judicial authorities announced this week that they are conducting an investigation into the death of a 27-year-old man in the southern city of Marseille. There are indications that his death may have been the result of cardiac arrest after being hit by a non-lethal weapon known as a “flash-ball”, used by police forces. Meanwhile, French society continues to be immersed in a debate about the measures to be taken to prevent future incidents of police violence and to guarantee full respect for the rights of all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or racial origin. Nahel’s loss highlighted the need for a comprehensive response that safeguards human rights and fosters social cohesion in France’s future.

Original source in Spanish