France Considers National Observatory to Combat Systemic Discrimination

"People of foreign origin or perceived as such are disadvantaged in access to employment or housing," analyzes the Defender of Rights in a report published on Monday and entitled "Discrimination and origins: the urgency to act". Also, these people are "more exposed to unemployment, precariousness, poor housing, police checks, poor health and educational inequalities," adds Jacques Toubon.

"It is an entire system that is at stake," warns the former Keeper of the Seals, stating that these discriminations call into question the "fundamental rights" of "millions" of people and "social cohesion". In 2016, "11% of people reported having experienced discrimination related to origin or skin color in the past 5 years" compared to 6% in 2008, the report says.

"The fight against discrimination is not the subject of a coordinated and specific policy," deplores the Defender. His wish, he will say, is that this fight becomes an "ambitious priority policy" like equality between women and men. Similarly, the former Keeper of the Seals calls for the creation of an "observatory of discrimination"; request that "the texts governing identity checks" be revised "to ensure their traceability".

Jacques Toubon also suggests "facilitating the proof of discrimination in criminal matters" and "guaranteeing proportionate and truly deterrent judicial sanctions against the perpetrators".