UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
“We are appalled by the level of violence suffered by pupils and students demonstrating across France to demand what is long overdue: a functioning education system, decent material conditions for education, appropriate school and university timetables and territorial and social equality in access to quality education, in particular,” the experts said. “These demands have long been highlighted by teachers.”
UN human rights experts raised concerns about police tactics, including an incident in the northern city of Lille, where a teenager lost a hand after a grenade exploded during clashes between student demonstrators and police.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, four independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council criticised the number of detentions and arrests made during the protests.
“The scale of the arrests and detention, affecting several thousand people, mainly minors, appears disproportionate and deters demonstrators from exercising their freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly,” the experts said.
They also condemned reports of serious injuries sustained by young demonstrators during police operations. “The serious and, in some cases, irreversible injuries sustained by underage demonstrators during law enforcement operations are unacceptable and unjustifiable,” they said.
The experts called on French authorities “to undertake a comprehensive review of their policing strategies and practices in order to enable demonstrators to express their concerns and to facilitate a peaceful resolution of social conflicts,” the statement added.
France has faced ongoing student protests since mid-September, initially sparked by concerns over deteriorating school buildings, overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages. Demonstrations have since expanded to include anger over the rising cost of living, with some escalating into violence.
Since early October, more than 5,000 people were detained in connection with high-school student protests, with approximately 85 per cent being minors, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
The latest protest saw more than 400,000 demonstrators taking part, with more than 1,000 arrests reported. Previous protests saw public buildings vandalised, streets damaged and hundreds of businesses looted, prompting authorities to increase security measures.
“What we are seeing right now is a general outburst of resentment against [French President Emmanuel] Macron and his policies that have destroyed our rights, destroyed our living conditions,” said Alice Cohen-Morzadec, a spokesperson for the Union Étudiante student union.
The UN experts confirmed that they remain in contact with French authorities regarding the issue.
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