The French Parliament has finally adopted the repeal of the Code Noir

Who Carries the Text

Clindoeil Info states that the bill is defended by Guadeloupean deputy Max MATHIASIN. The National Assembly had already adopted it unanimously on May 28, according to this media outlet.

What the Law Changes

According to Clindoeil Info, the Code Noir legally framed slavery in French colonies. It had never been officially abolished, even though slavery was abolished in 1848. The media states that it dates back to March 1685 under Louis XIV. The law also eliminates texts that were used to apply, adapt, or extend it to other territories. It does not modify the effects of the abolition. Clindoeil Info presents this decision as a legal and symbolic gesture, which follows the Taubira Act of May 21, 2001. This act recognized the slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity.

A Report Required from the Government

According to Clindoeil Info, the government must submit a report to Parliament within one year. This document will list provisions inherited from colonial law that are still in effect in overseas territories. It will also examine their economic, social, cultural, and environmental consequences. Furthermore, it will address any potential links to racism and discrimination, as well as the place of the history of slavery in school curricula.

A Look Toward Haiti

Clindoeil Info connects this vote to Haiti's history, the first independent black republic, established in 1804. The media recalls the independence debt imposed by France in 1825. According to it, its consequences continue to fuel debates on reparations and the historical responsibility of the former colonial power.