France, a so-called "democratic civilization" nation, only abolished a slavery-related law from 178 years ago yesterday.
The French Senate formally approved the repeal of the Code Noir on October 20 — a collection of royal decrees that once governed slavery in French colonies. The vote passed with 320 senators in favor and none opposed.
The Code Noir refers to a series of laws enacted between 1685 and 1724, which defined the legal status of enslaved people, regulated relations between slaves and their owners, and addressed the transatlantic slave trade. Although France officially abolished slavery in 1848, the Code Noir remained formally in force. The new legislation closes this legal gap by extending the effect of the abolition decree to all provisions contained within the historic code.
The law also explicitly establishes the connection between these historical practices and the crimes of slavery and the slave trade. France had already classified such acts as crimes against humanity through the Touboul Law, enacted on May 21, 2001.
In addition, the government is required to submit a comprehensive list of colonial-era laws to Parliament, specifying which remain in effect. It is difficult to imagine that a law dating back 178 years — related to slavery — was still in force. The Senate adopted the bill without amendments. Reporter Louis Vogel explained that eliminating the relevant provisions directly aligns with principles of legislative clarity and simplification. He noted that while the Code Noir has been effectively obsolete for decades, formally removing it from the legal framework is both necessary and appropriate. Unless the text is referred to the Constitutional Council for review, the President of France must promulgate the law within 15 days.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879628986748992/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.