In her report, Claire Hédon is alarmed at the increasing violations of rights in the early childhood sector, for foreigners and criticizes the public service.

By NJ with AFP

« Dn almost three years in office, I have seen rights abuses that undermine cohesion and democracy. We have an increase in all areas, ”worries Claire Hédon, Defender of Rights. In its annual report published this Monday, April 17, it draws up an alarming observation.

Violations of rights and “cuts” to the principles that underpin French society are increasing, especially for foreigners, in terms of access to public services or child protection, she is alarmed. The independent authority she heads, responsible in particular for defending citizens against the administration, received more than 125,000 complaints in 2022, or 9% more than the previous year.

Children and strangers most affected

The complaints handled by the 570 delegates, present in the 96 metropolitan departments and 5 overseas departments, mainly concern relations with public services: more than 82,000 complaints, up 14% over one year.

More specifically, the Defender of Rights deplores the “dramatic state” of child protection, whose complaints are up 20% over one year to reach 3,586. “Like what is happening in nursing homes , this also applies to early childhood. We lack resources for vulnerable people,” comments Claire Hédon.

Its services also alert on violations of the fundamental rights of foreigners, the main reason for referral to the institution: they represent nearly a quarter of the 125,456 complaints recorded in 2022. From 6,540 in 2019, the number of complaints has increased to 21,666 in 2022, an increase of 231%. This increase is even 450% in Île-de-France.

The lack of appointments in the line of sight

At issue in very many cases, the impossibility for foreign nationals to make an appointment at the prefecture to apply for or renew a residence permit, to obtain an answer from State services or extremely long processing times for Obligations to leave French territory (OQTF).

Claire Hédon deplores in this respect the cuts in public services, which have an impact on the reception of people, recalling that the institution is not “intended to become the” Doctolib “of making appointments you in the prefecture”.

115 referrals during protests against pension reform

As in previous years, the year 2022 was marked by questions of relations between the police and the population: the Defender of Rights recorded a slight increase (+ 2%) in cases related to “security ethics”, with 2 455 complaints, the majority of which concern the action of the police. Statistically, breaches of security ethics accounted for 3% of the complaints received by the institution last year.

The mobilization against the pension reform has given rise to “115 referrals since the start of the pension protests, and the vast majority over the last three weeks or the last month”, said Claire Hédon.

In recent weeks, the left, trade unions and human rights NGOs have severely criticized the excessive use of force by the police and gendarmes during the mobilization against the pension reform or the demonstration against the mega basins in Sainte-Soline, in Deux-Sèvres on March 25.

In her report, the Defender of Rights also notes a slight increase (+2%) in complaints in the fight against discrimination, to reach 6,545 last year, 20% of which concerned discrimination on the grounds of disability.

Complaints concerning the guidance and protection of whistleblowers finally jumped by 51% in one year, from 89 to 134, after the promulgation of the law of March 21, 2022 strengthening their protection.