France: An effective mandate for the Defender of Rights

France: An effective mandate for the Defender of Rights

Allegations of human rights violations by law enforcement officials in France, and the lack of effective redress for their victims continue in France. Until now, the only independent body mandated to investigate complaints against law enforcement officials was the National Commission on Ethics in Security (CNDS). In July 2008 a new institution, the Defender of Rights, was created by parliament. This paper investigates the weaknesses of the CNDS , its merging into a larger body and the issues arising from this reform.