September, 03 2009, 12:24pm EDT
France: Recommendations on Justice Reform Fall Short
The Leger Committee, an ad hoc government committee tasked with formulating far-reaching recommendations to improve France's criminal justice system, released its final report on September 1, 2009. The government is expected to use the recommendations as the basis for legislation to reform France's Code of Criminal Procedure and the Criminal Code. The Committee failed to endorse reforms that would significantly improve due process rights guaranteed under human rights law.
WASHINGTON
The Leger Committee, an ad hoc government committee tasked with formulating far-reaching recommendations to improve France's criminal justice system, released its final report on September 1, 2009. The government is expected to use the recommendations as the basis for legislation to reform France's Code of Criminal Procedure and the Criminal Code. The Committee failed to endorse reforms that would significantly improve due process rights guaranteed under human rights law.
"The Leger Committee says its proposed reforms would create a 'habeas corpus a la francaise,'" said Judith Sunderland, senior researcher with the Europe and Central Asia Division. "But they are actually half-measures that don't satisfy France's obligations under international law."
In April, Human Rights Watch submitted detailed recommendations to the committee, named after its president, Philippe Leger, based on in-depth research and analysis of France's criminal justice approach to countering terrorism. The Human Rights Watch recommendations include:
- Strengthening safeguards against due process violations and abuse during police custody;
- Preventing lengthy pre-trial detention without sufficient evidence;
- Guaranteeing that torture evidence is never used in legal proceedings; and
- Amending the definition of criminal association to commit terrorism.
"The French government will need to look beyond the Leger Committee if it is committed to real criminal justice reform," said Sunderland. "We hope that the government will take our recommendations into account as it moves forward."
Human Rights Watch is one of the world's leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. Our rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy build intense pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse. For 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.
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