As delivered by Michele Roulbet
29th Session of the Human Rights Council’s UPR
Geneva, January 15, 2018
The United States warmly welcomes the French delegation to the UPR Working Group.
The United States commends France’s strong commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic values, and the rule of law.
We welcome efforts to counter anti-Semitism, including a new national anti-Semitism plan.
We are concerned, however, by the ban on some forms of religious attire and symbols in public.
We are also concerned about the low rate of regular access to public education for Romani children, which partly results from discrimination, lack of stable housing, and difficulty obtaining identity papers.
Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that France:
- Develop national plans to address all forms of religious discrimination.
- Establish a national program to eliminate barriers and increase access to public education for Romani children.
- Implement the Government’s national plan to improve access to education, health care, employment and public infrastructure for persons with disabilities.
(end statement)