“France Repeals ‘Code Noir’ Slave-Era Rules 178 Years After Abolishing Slavery” — what this page in the network covers. In a historic move, the French Senate has voted to repeal the last vestiges of the ‘Code Noir’—the infamous set of decrees that once governed slavery in France’s colonies. The decision comes 178 years after slavery was abolished in the French Empire, highlighting a long-standing legal contradiction that has drawn criticism from historians and civil rights advocates. The Code Noir, originally established by Louis XIV in 1685, defined the conditions of slavery and remained partially in force in some overseas territories even after abolition.
The repeal is largely symbolic, as the rules had no practical application, but it carries deep significance for descendants of enslaved people and for France’s ongoing reckoning with its colonial past. Senators from across the political spectrum supported the measure, describing it as a necessary step toward fully aligning French law with the values of liberty and equality. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.