France Shuns UN’s Plea For Paris to Tackle Racism and Discrimination in Police Force

France has rejected the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)’s call for the country to address racial discrimination within its police force. The French Foreign Ministry brushed it off as groundless. 

It highlighted that France’s police officers are subjected to a level of internal, external and judicial control that few countries have. The ministry said the French police force fights resolutely against racism and all forms of discrimination. This comes after Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR spokesperson, expressed concern over the death of a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent. 17-year-old Nahel M was shot by a police officer at a traffic stop in Nanterre when he refused to stop. 

This incident has sparked outrage across France. About 1,311 people have been arrested, with protests going into its fourth night. To stamp the unrest, France deployed 45,000 officers and light armored vehicles and crack police units. 

The OHCHR said people in France feel the police don’t treat them with respect; they are being stopped and checked for no reason. The UN agency urged France to respect the importance of peaceful assembly. It called on the French government to ensure that the use of force by the police to address violent elements in demonstrations, “respects the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, non-discrimination, precaution, and accountability”. 

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The French Foreign Ministry rebuked the UN saying its police deals with violent situations “with great professionalism”. It said the use of force by the law enforcement authorities is governed by the principles of absolute necessity and proportionality. And it’s strictly regulated and controlled. 

This is not the first time that UN experts raised concerns about use of excessive force during protests in France. They described the use of excessive force as anti-democratic, and profoundly worrying for the protection and upholding of the rule of law. The UN urged French authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of their policing strategies to enable protesters to highlight their concerns and help bring about peaceful protest and gatherings.