On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch addressed a letter to France’s new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, urging him to prioritize human rights when crafting national and international policies.
The 2024 France parliamentary elections were marred by a rise in racist and xenophobic rhetoric, alongside extreme political polarization. According to a report published by the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH), racism and intolerance towards minorities have risen for the second consecutive year in France. Furthermore, according to the 2023 Annual Activity Report by the Defender of Rights, 137,894 complaints were received in 2023, marking a 10% increase compared to 2022. These complaints primarily pertain to the rights of foreigners, social protection, security, and justice, highlighting an “erosion of respect for fundamental rights.”
The HRW letter focused on discrimination, intolerance, the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and foreign policies.
First, with respect to the rule of law, it urges the government to cultivate a political and social environment that upholds the rule of law and acknowledges its vital role. It also calls for the protection and promotion of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Furthermore, it demands an immediate end to the practice of dissolving civil society organizations through ministerial decrees and emphasizes the importance of ensuring a transparent and non-discriminatory process for the awarding and withdrawing of public subsidies.
Second, with regard to mitigating discrimination and intolerance, it urges the government to ensure effective anti-racism policies and invest in the human rights-based collection of equality data that informs policy-making on anti-racism.
Third, it urges the government to take several measures to protect the rights of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, including supporting emergency temporary relocation programs in times of increased arrivals.
Fourth, it urges the government to condition partnerships with highly abusive governments on concrete progress in the area of human rights in the context of foreign policies.