Concerns on Human Rights in France Raised at UN

At the 142nd session of the UN Human Rights Committee, key members Tiana Shurman from Serbia and Ivona Maria Donders from the Netherlands highlighted serious human rights issues in France. Shurman particularly focused on the injuries sustained by protesters due to excessive use of force by law enforcement in New Caledonia. She called for transparency in investigating incidents involving the use of force. Furthermore, she pointed out that the overcrowding in penitentiaries in France and its overseas territories creates inhumane conditions for inmates. Donders also expressed concerns regarding the living conditions of migrants in Calais, Grande-Synthe, and Mayotte, where French authorities implement a zero-settlement policy. She mentioned that temporary shelters are often dismantled, sometimes using force. The new migration law, as she indicated, not only expanded the grounds for deportation but also allows for the administrative detention of foreign nationals without grounds for deportation. These issues raise pressing matters requiring attention from both French authorities and the international community.