This page is intended for anyone who has witnessed or been the victim of violent behavior or hateful or discriminatory comments (such as racism, sexism, homophobia…) by a third party at a French border.
Violent behavior of a racist or discriminatory nature, as well as hateful or discriminatory comments, are punishable by law. There are various ways of responding to cases of violence: filing a complaint, testifying, referring a case, or reporting it to the relevant authorities. These means also vary according to the victim (for example, a minor) and the person responsible for the violence (for example, the police).
Report the facts to the appropriate authorities
I was a victim or a witness of inappropriate behavior by law enforcement officers at the border
I contact the Défenseur des droits (Fench Ombudsman)
Who can file a complaint? Any individual who has been the victim of misconduct by a police officer, gendarme, or member of the forces of law and order, their heirs (spouse, children, parents), or a witness to the incident.
For which situations? Disproportionate use of force, disgraceful behavior (such as inappropriate gestures or comments, insults, threats, or use of familiar language), an abusive search or pat-down, an identity check carried out under abnormal conditions, difficulties in lodging a complaint, or contesting a measure of constraint or deprivation of liberty (arrest, police custody, detention).
How do I ask for help?
- Using the online form.
- By post, free of charge, simply in an unstamped envelope, to the following address: Défenseur des droits, Libre réponse 71120, 75342 Paris CEDEX 07.
- By telephone (cost of a local call): 00 33 9 69 39 00 00.
- By meeting a delegate: see the list.
- To find out more, visit the website of the Human Rights Defender’s discrimination unit.
I am making a report to the French National Police Inspectorate: Inspection générale de la police nationale (IGPN)
Who can report? Anyone who is a victim or witness, directly or indirectly, of behavior likely to implicate a member of the national police force.
What is an alert? An alert is not a legal complaint, but rather a form of information.
How to report? Use the online form.
I am making a report to the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie: Inspection générale de la gendarmerie nationale (IGGN)
Who can report? Anyone who has witnessed or been the victim of behavior likely to implicate personnel serving in a Gendarmerie Nationale unit.
How to report? Use the online form.
I was a victim or a witness of violence or hate/discrimination speech from a third party at the border
I contact France Victimes
France Victimes promotes and develops aid and assistance for victims and any other measures that help to improve recognition of victims.
How can you contact them? By telephone: 116006 (victim support number available 7 days a week, 9am to 7pm).
I contact the Défenseur des droits (Fench Ombudsman)
How can I contact her? Call 3928 from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 7pm.
To find out more about situations of violence and/or discrimination: https://www.antidiscriminations.fr/victime-temoin-violence.
For the deaf and hearing-impaired: https://app.acce-o.fr/client/antidiscrimination.
Special cases of violence or hate speech at the border
I was a victim or a witness of child abuse
I contact the Défenseur des droits (Fench Ombudsman).
- Using the online form.
- By post, free of charge, simply in an unstamped envelope, to the following address: Défenseur des droits, Libre réponse 71120, 75342 Paris CEDEX 07.
- By telephone (cost of a local call): 00 33 9 69 39 00 00.
- By meeting a delegate: see the list.
- To find out more, visit the website of the Fench Ombudsman’s discrimination unit.
I contact Child Helpline: Allô enfance en danger.
I was a victim or witness of sexist or sexual violence
I contact an emergency number: 112 (European emergency service), 15 (medical emergencies), 18 (fire brigade), 114 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, aphasic, or dysphasic).
I contact the Violences Femmes Info listening, information, and referral number, Violences Femmes Info: Call 3919 (anonymous and free).
Contact Anafé to testify
Have you been the victim of violence or hate speech at a border? If you’d like to tell us about your experience, please fill in this form.
