The key facts

  • The French Senate unanimously repealed the 1685 'Black Code', completing the legislative process
  • The Code classified enslaved people as movable property and provided for cruel punishments
  • The law requires a report on the legacy of colonial laws but does not resolve the question of reparations

The Senate completed the legislative process

The French Senate on Tuesday unanimously voted to formally repeal the 'Black Code' (Code Noir) — a set of royal decrees issued by King Louis XIV in 1685. These decrees legally regulated slavery in the French colonial empire, defining the rights, duties and restrictions for enslaved people and their owners. As reported by the France Info portal, the vote confirmed the decision previously adopted unanimously by the National Assembly in May, thereby completing the legislative process of repealing slavery-era legislation.

What the 'Black Code' regulated

The 'Black Code' classified enslaved people as movable property, allowing them to be bought and sold. The legislation also prescribed harsh punishments for those who attempted to escape, including mutilation, branding and the death penalty.

Why the repeal happened only now

Although slavery in the French colonies was abolished in 1848, the royal decrees and related provisions were never formally removed from French legislation, despite having lost legal force.

Report on the legacy of colonialism and the question of reparations

The law also obliges the government to present a report examining the legacy of colonial laws and their long-term consequences, in particular in connection with racism, as well as the teaching of the history of slavery in French schools. At the same time, the bill does not address demands for reparations for slavery — an issue that continues to be raised in a number of French overseas territories.