E/CN.4/1996/72/Add.3 page 3 INTRODUCTION Purpose of the mission 1. In accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1993/20 and 1995/12, the Special Rapporteur carried out a fact-finding mission to France from 29 September to 9 October 1995. 2. This visit was prompted by the multiplication, since 1990, of racist and xenophobic incidents targeting immigrants and of anti-Semitic acts, which the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights had noted in its reports for 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Other information received by the Centre for Human Rights also included allegations of ill-treatment by the police of prisoners from countries in the Maghreb, the Middle East and Africa. 1 3. The Special Rapporteur therefore wished to obtain information regarding the measures taken by the French Government and developments in the situation. Chronology of the mission 4. The Special Rapporteur began his mission in Strasbourg, where he met with Mr. Edmond Stenger, Government Procurator, and Mr. Jean-Luc Faivre, Director of Public Security of the Department of Bas-Rhin. He also met with Mr. René Gutman, Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg. 5. While in the city, he visited the Maison des droits de l'homme (Human Rights House), where he participated in a very productive meeting with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). 6. The Special Rapporteur then visited Paris, where he took part in meetings with senior officials of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Integration, the National Employment Agency (ANPE), the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) and the French Office for Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFRPA). He also participated in a meeting with the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, chaired by Mr. Paul Bouchet. 7. He met with representatives of the General Workers' Confederation (Conféderation générale des travailleurs) (CGT) and the French Democratic Labour Confederation (Confédération française démocratique du travail) (CFDT) a representative of the Force ouvrière (FO) trade union and several representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to combat racism and discrimination and to promote and protect human rights in general. The names of these individuals are indicated in the programme of the mission. 8. The Special Rapporteur continued his mission by travelling to Lyon, Marseille and Toulon, where he met with prefectural and municipal authorities. However, in Toulon, Ms. Guillet de la Brosse, the Deputy Mayor, who is a 1 See Amnesty International, France, Shootings, killings and alleged illtreatment by law enforcement officers (London, 12 October 1994).