Eighty Years On, the Promise of 1946 Remains a Dead Letter: CAP Freedom of Conscience Challenges France at the Human Rights Council

On Thursday 1 October 2026, during the general debate under Item 9 of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, devoted to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, Christine Mirre, Vice President of CAP Freedom of Conscience, delivered a statement on behalf of the Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience, addressing the policy of France towards its overseas departments.

Ms Mirre recalled two recent developments that illustrate what she described as structural racism in the French Antilles. First, the chlordecone scandal: this pesticide, banned in mainland France in 1990, continued to be used in Guadeloupe and Martinique until 1993, and it was only in June 2026 that a law formally acknowledged the responsibility of the French State.

Second, the death of Claude Jean Pierre, a 67 year old man who died in Guadeloupe in 2020 following a police intervention; it was only in August 2026 that the two gendarmes involved were placed under investigation.

Her statement also denounced a new law of July 2026 establishing a presumption that police shootings are lawful, and cited a Senate report of June 2026 acknowledging systemic inequalities. Eighty years after the departmentalisation of 1946, she argued, the equality promised to the citizens of the overseas departments remains a dead letter. She called on France, as required by the Durban Declaration, to repeal the contested law, end police impunity, compensate the victims of chlordecone and guarantee genuine equality of rights to all French citizens.

Here is her statement in full:

Statement by the Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience

We are deeply concerned by the policy pursued by France towards its overseas departments.

In the French Antilles, people of African descent face structural racism and a neocolonial administration.

The chlordecone scandal, a pesticide banned in mainland France as early as 1990 but used in the islands until 1993, continues to poison 81 percent of adults. It was only in June 2026 that France acknowledged its responsibility.

Claude Jean Pierre, sixty seven years old, died following police violence in Guadeloupe in 2020. It was only in August 2026 that the gendarmes were placed under investigation.

The new law of July 2026 presumes that any police shooting is lawful, thus placing the burden of proof on grieving families.

A Senate report of June 2026 acknowledges the existence of systemic inequalities. Eighty years after departmentalisation, the equality promised in 1946 remains a dead letter. The colour of one’s skin continues to determine the rights enjoyed by French citizens.

We call on France, as the Durban Declaration requires, to repeal this law, to end police impunity, to compensate the victims of chlordecone and to guarantee true equality of rights to all French citizens.

Thank you.