France Repeals Colonial-Era Law Defining Enslaved People as Moveable Goods
French lawmakers are expected to advance legislation Thursday that would repeal a colonial-era statute classifying enslaved people in French colonies as moveable goods. The measure follows France's 2001 recognition of slavery as a crime against humanity.
France 24France is expected to advance a measure Thursday that would repeal a colonial-era law classifying enslaved people in its former colonies as moveable goods. The legislation is described as symbolic. France abolished the slave trade more than 170 years ago.
France ranked as the third-largest European participant in the transatlantic slave trade after Britain and Portugal. In 2001, the country passed a law recognizing slavery and the slave trade as crimes against humanity. The repeal targets language still present in older statutes that categorized enslaved individuals as property. No timetable for final passage was provided in the report.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
2 events- 2001
France recognized slavery and the slave trade as crimes against humanity.
1 sourceFrance 24 - Thursday
France is expected to move toward repealing colonial-era legislation defining enslaved people as moveable goods.
1 sourceFrance 24
Potential Impact
- 01
Passage would remove specific legal language from remaining colonial statutes.
Transparency Panel
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