France repeals the 1685 'code noir' slavery decree
France has formally repealed the 'code noir', the 1685 royal decree that governed slavery in the French Caribbean colonies, along with its later applications in other territories. The law also states that the republic recognises those rules as inseparable from the crime against humanity of the slave trade and slavery. The government now has one year to report to Parliament on colonial-era rules still in force overseas and on how slavery is taught in schools.
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What does it mean?
France has now cancelled the old 1685 set of rules that treated enslaved people as property. The law also says the government must report to Parliament within a year on colonial-era rules still in place in overseas territories and on how slavery is taught in schools.
Who is affected?
Descendants of enslaved people, residents of France's overseas territories, and students and teachers covered by school history lessons on slavery.
What changes?
Before this law, the 1685 'code noir' and its extensions to other territories were in force; now they are repealed.