Five NGOs File Complaint with the UN Against France for Racial Profiling

Five NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have filed a complaint with the UN against France, accusing it of systemic discrimination and racial profiling in police identity checks and its broader war on drugs. The complaint calls for concrete actions to eliminate racial profiling and follows incidents such as the death of Nahel Merzouk and subsequent riots.

To combat racial profiling in France, several international and national organizations have filed a complaint with the United Nations on Thursday, April 11, to address systemic discrimination in identity checks.

This initiative, led by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and local associations such as the Community House for Solidary Development, Pazapas, and Reaji, aims to highlight the pervasive issue of discriminatory practices that disproportionately target individuals based on their race or appearance.

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Seeking International Remedies

The complaint was filed with the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) after exhausting all national legal avenues. Myriame Matari, a lawyer representing several plaintiff associations, explains the need for international intervention: “We are pursuing on an international scale what could not be achieved nationally.”

The catalyst for this action stems from an October 2023 ruling by the Council of State, which acknowledged the existence of racial profiling but failed to address it as a systemic issue requiring concrete and comprehensive solutions.

As emphasized by Lanna Hollo, an international law specialist involved in the complaint, “the law requires states to take all necessary measures to prevent racial discrimination, put an end to it, and protect the victims.” The petitioners stress that recognizing discrimination is not enough; effective measures must be implemented to eradicate it.

Ongoing Discriminatory Practices

The complaint highlights the alarming reality of discriminatory police checks in France, especially in marginalized neighborhoods. Relying on findings from the Defender of Rights and sociologists, the associations emphasize the persistence of racial profiling, a practice long denounced by the affected communities. This view is shared by Tendayi Achiume, former UN Special Rapporteur, who criticized the French authorities’ denial of systemic racism, stating that this denial perpetuates discrimination.

The associations urge the French government to take concrete steps to comply with international human rights standards. Ms. Matari points out that the goal is not only to punish discrimination but also to prevent, detect, and effectively address racial discrimination in France. This demand includes urgent and concrete measures to eliminate discriminatory practices and ensure real protection for the targeted individuals.

The War on Drugs and Racial Bias

Historically, the war on cannabis has disproportionately targeted minority communities. This selective enforcement, based on both systemic and revealed racism through racial profiling, 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

Following incidents such as the tragic death of Nahel Merzouk and the ensuing riots, the United Nations 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. In response, France has contested these claims, illustrating the challenging dialogue surrounding these issues.

Although a decision by the United Nations might take several years, the significance of an international judgment cannot be underestimated. Matari views a potential UN condemnation as a crucial step in holding France accountable and demanding appropriate measures to effectively combat racial discrimination.

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(Featured image by Paul MARSAN via Unsplash)

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