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UN special rapporteurs and independent experts have criticized French authorities for their handling of nationwide student protests. The experts expressed concern about the level of violence faced by school pupils and students during the demonstrations, AnewZ reports.
They said protesters had raised long-standing demands, including a functioning education system, decent material conditions for education, appropriate timetables in schools and universities, and territorial and social equality in access to quality education. The experts noted that teachers had also been raising these demands for a long time.
The experts voiced concern about police tactics, including an incident in Lille. A grenade exploded during a clash between student protesters and police, and one teenager lost a hand.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, four independent experts criticized the numerous detentions and arrests during the protests. They said the detention of several thousand people, mostly minors, appeared disproportionate and discouraged protesters from exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The experts also condemned reports that young demonstrators had suffered serious injuries during police operations. The statement said that serious, and in some cases irreversible, injuries to underage protesters were unacceptable and unjustified.
Experts call for review of policing
UN experts urged French authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of police strategies and practices. The aim is to allow protesters to voice their concerns and help resolve social conflicts peacefully.
Student protests in France have been under way since mid-September. Protesters initially raised concerns about deteriorating school buildings, overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages. The protests later expanded to include discontent over rising living costs, and some demonstrations turned violent.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that more than 5,000 people had been detained in connection with secondary school students’ protests since early October, about 85% of them minors.
More than 400,000 protesters took part in the latest demonstration, and more than 1,000 arrests were reported. During earlier protests, public buildings were damaged, streets were vandalized and hundreds of businesses were looted. Authorities subsequently tightened security measures.
Alice Cohen-Morzadec, a spokesperson for the student union Union Étudiante, said: “What we are seeing now is an explosion of widespread discontent with [French President Emmanuel] Macron and his policies, which are destroying our rights and living conditions.”
UN experts confirmed that they had contacted the French authorities about the matter.
