Defender of Rights
Défenseur des droits
3 Place de Fontenoy 75007 Paris France
http://www.defenseurdesdroits.fr/
communication@defenseurdesdroits.fr
+339 69 39 00 00
+33153292344
French, English
Nepheli Yatropoulos
nepheli.yatropoulos@defenseurdesdroits.fr
The Défenseur des droits is a Constitutional independent authority competent in 4 different areas: the Rights of the users of public services, (as the national Ombud) the Defense of Children’s Rights, the non-discrimination and promotion of Equality (as the National NEB) , and the issue of ethics in security services (police and other private security services complaints’ Commission). Moreover, the Défenseur des droits has a protection responsibility (instruction of individual cases in all his fields of competence) and a promotional activity in order to address the improvement of access to rights and promote Equality. The French institution has powers of inquiry and powers of intervention, such as : to resolve a conflict by mutual agreement by making recommendations or through a mediation/conciliation, to intervene in support of a civil or criminal transaction, to request disciplinary action against an security officer, to request observations before a court in order, and to recommend sanctions by the administration against a physical person or legal entity at the origin of discrimination. Its actions are supported by the work of regional delegates, 400 persons working on a voluntary basis which represent the institution all over the French territory.
The Défenseur des droits was enshrined in the Constitution on 23rd July 2008 and established by the Organic and Ordinary Laws of 29th March 2011. Laws of 29th March 2011. The institution has succeed to 4 distinct authorities: the Médiateur de la République (French Mediator/Ombud), the Défenseur des enfants (Children’s Ombudsman), the Haute Autorité de lutte contre les discriminations et pour l’égalité (HALDE, equality and anti-discrimination authority), and the Commission nationale de déontologie de la sécurité (CNDS, national commission on security ethics).
Private, Public
Amicus curiae brief or similar
Fields | Grounds |
---|---|
Employment | Gender Identity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Race and Ethnic Origin, Religion or Belief, Age, Disability, Health Status, Social or Socio-economic Status, Other Grounds |
Education | Gender Identity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Race and Ethnic Origin, Religion or Belief, Age, Disability, Health Status, Social or Socio-economic Status, Other Grounds |
Goods and Services | Gender, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Race and Ethnic Origin, Religion or Belief, Age, Disability, Health Status, Social or Socio-economic Status, Other Grounds |
Housing | Gender, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Race and Ethnic Origin, Religion or Belief, Age, Disability, Health Status, Social or Socio-economic Status, Other Grounds |
Social Protection & Healthcare | Gender, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Race and Ethnic Origin, Religion or Belief, Age, Disability, Health Status, Social or Socio-economic Status, Other Grounds |
Other | Gender, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Race and Ethnic Origin, Religion or Belief, Age, Disability, Health Status, Social or Socio-economic Status, Other Grounds |
Pregnancy, genetic characteristics, political opinions, trade union activities, philosophical opinions, family situation, physical appearance, patronym, morals, place of residence, loss of autonomy, ability to express oneself in a language other than French, bank domiciliation.
Multi-mandate equality body
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of cases handled | 4846 | 5203 | 5405 | 5631 | 5448 | ||
Number of inquiries | |||||||
Number of litigation cases |
Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)
The Defender of Rights is a single authority in charge of defending the rights. The Defender of Rights chairs over 3 Boards which assist him in the performance of his duties in the defense of the rights of children, the fight against discrimination and promotion of equality, as well as ethics in the field of security. Each Board has a vice-chair in the person of the appropriate deputy. The Defender of Rights is appointed by the president of the Republic but has to be confirmed in his or her functions by the Parliament (Senate and National Assembly). This mandate is non-renewable. His or her functions may only be terminated at his or her request or in the event of an obstacle according to the conditions defined by decree of the Council of State. The Defender of rights, which is an independent constitutional authority, does not receive any instructions in the exercising of his remit. The Defender of rights and his deputies may not be prosecuted, sought after, arrested, detained, or tried on the basis of the opinions they issue or the acts that they carry out in fulfilling their functions. The functions of the Defender of rights and of his deputies are not compatible with the functions of a member of the Government, of the Constitutional Council, the Supreme Judicial Council, and of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, as well as any other elected office. Furthermore, the functions of the Defender of rights and those of his deputies are incompatible with any other public function or employment and all other professional activities, as well as any other position as chairman and member of the board of directors, or chairman and member of the executive board, chairman and member of the supervisory board, or the managing director of any company, enterprise or institution.
The Board in charge of security ethics is composed of:
Three highly qualified individuals appointed by the President of the Senate
Three highly qualified individuals appointed by the President of the National Assembly
One member or former member of the Council of State, appointed by the Vice-chair of the Council of State
One member or former member of the Court of Cassation appointed jointly by the first President of the Court of Cassation and the Prosecutor General to said Court
Defence and Promotion of Children’s Rights Board
The Board in charge of the defence and promotion of children’s rights is composed of:
Two highly qualified individuals appointed by the President of the Senate
Two highly qualified individuals appointed by the President of the National Assembly
One highly qualified individual appointed by the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council
One member or former member of the Court of Cassation appointed jointly by the first President of the Court of Cassation and the Prosecutor at said Court
The Anti-Discrimination and Promotion of Equality Board
The Board in charge of the fight against discrimination and promotion of equality is composed of:
Three highly qualified individuals appointed by the President of the Senate
Three highly qualified individuals appointed by the President of the National Assembly
One highly qualified individual appointed by the Vice-chair of the Council of State
One highly qualified individual appointed by the First President of the Court of Cassation
510
National Parliament, Head of State, National Audit Institution
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of staff members working on equality |
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operating budget in euros [ACTUAL] | 26704300 | 28110400 | 21245400 | 21487000 | 20822500 | ||
Operating budget in euros [ALLOCATED] | 27436800 | 28668900 | 21487600 | 21652800 | 212878000 | ||
Operating budget in euros for the parts of the organisation dealing with equality issues (all types of functions) [ACTUAL] | |||||||
Operating budget in euros for the parts of the organisation dealing with equality issues (all types of functions) [ALLOCATED] |