UN body is concerned about “racial hatred” and “discriminatory arrests” by police

The committee for the elimination of racial discrimination points in particular to racist speeches held by political leaders and police controls targeting “disproportionately certain minorities”.

MO12345lemonde with AFP

The “magnitude” of hatred speeches in France, but also the “discriminatory arrests” led by the police worry the UN committee for the elimination of racial discrimination (CERD). His 18 independent experts broadcast Friday December 2 a series of observations and recommendations after examination of French policy concerning the minorities of the country.

The Committee is said to be “concerned about the persistence and the extent of speeches of a racist and discriminatory nature, especially in the media and on the Internet”, but also by “the racist political discourse held by political leaders”, including the Names are not cited, with regard to certain ethnic minorities, in particular Roma, Travelers, African or African desk and people of Arab origin. He is also concerned about social exclusion and persistent poverty suffered by Roma and Travelers.

“Redouble efforts”

The CERD notes “the determination and political will of the French government in terms of fighting racism and racial discrimination in all their forms”, but asks France “to redouble their efforts to prevent and fight Effectively racial hatred speeches “, including by the effective application of legislation, and to sanction any manifestation of racism and racial hatred in public spaces, especially in the media and on the Internet.

Police violence and racial profiling also alarming experts. The Committee highlights “the frequent use of identity checks, discriminatory arrests, as well as the application of the delicual flat -rate fines imposed by the police or the police targeting certain minorities disproportionately, in Particular African people, of African descendants, of Arab origin, the Roma, the Travelers and the Non-Resorting “French.

He says he is particularly concerned about the lack of control by justice and traceability of this type of identity controls, “which are often accompanied by racist and discriminatory acts”. Experts ask France to include in its legislation the definition and prohibition of racial or ethnic profiling, and to ensure that the police and any agent of the police “are given to the police” on the subject.

/Media reports cited above.