Five NGOs lodge a complaint with the UN against France for its facial checks

In order to combat racial profiling in France, several international and national organizations lodged a complaint with the UN on Thursday April 11 to tackle systemic discrimination in identity checks.

This initiative, led by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and local associations such as Maison communautaire pour un développement solidaire, Pazapas and Reaji, aims to draw attention to the pervasive problem of discriminatory practices that disproportionately target individuals based on their race or appearance.

Seeking international redress

The complaint, lodged with the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), comes after national legal channels have been exhausted. Myriame Matari, a lawyer representing several complainant associations, explains the need for international intervention: «We are pursuing on an international scale what could not be done on a national scale».

The catalyst for this action stems from the Conseil d'État's decision in October 2023, which recognized the existence of racial profiling but failed to address it as a systemic problem requiring concrete, global solutions.

As Lanna Hollo, a specialist in international law involved in the complaint, points out, «the law requires states to take all necessary measures to prevent the racial discrimination, The petitioners stress that it is not enough to recognize discrimination; effective measures must be implemented to eradicate it.

Recurring discriminatory practices

The complaint highlights the alarming reality of discriminatory police checks in France, particularly in marginalized neighborhoods. Drawing on the findings of the Défenseur des Droits and sociologists, the associations point to the persistence of racial profiling, a practice that is still widespread in France. a practice long denounced by the populations concerned. This sentiment is shared by Tendayi Achiume, former UN Special Rapporteur, who has denounced the French authorities' denial of systemic racism, claiming that denial perpetuates discrimination.

The associations want the French government to take concrete steps to comply with international human rights standards. Ms Matari stresses that the aim is not only to punish discrimination, but also to prevent, detect and deal effectively with racial discrimination in France. This sentiment is reflected in the demand for urgent, concrete measures to eliminate discriminatory practices and guarantee real protection for those targeted.

Historically, the war on drugs disproportionately targets minority communities. This selective enforcement, based on both systemic racism and revealed by the practices of facial checks, contributes to higher arrest and incarceration rates, as well as harsher penalties for drug-related offenses among people of color.

International review and future implications

In the wake of incidents such as the tragic death of Nahel Merzouk and the riots that followed, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed its deep concern about the persistence of racial profiling and the excessive use of force by law enforcement officers. In response, France disputed these assertions, illustrating the difficult dialogue surrounding these issues.

Although a UN decision may take several years, the importance of an international judgment cannot be underestimated. Matari sees a possible condemnation by the UN as a crucial step in holding France accountable and demanding appropriate measures to effectively fight against racial discrimination.