Fighting against discrimination and promoting equality
To treat a person unfairly on the basis of his or her ethnic origin, sex, age, state of health, lifestyle, opinions... (in total, 20 elements are established by law) is strictly prohibited by French law and the international conventions approved by France.
You may appeal to the Defender of Rights if you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, either direct or indirect.

Who can refer cases to the Defender of Rights?

• a private person (a natural person acting on his/her own behalf)
• an association or group whose bylaws promote anti-discrimination efforts. It must be properly declared and in operation for at least 5 years at the time of the action. The appeal to the Defender of Rights must be made with the consent and the cooperation of the person claiming to be a victim of discrimination.
• The Defender of Rights may also take up a case on his own initiative in cases of suspected discrimination

What are the criteria of discrimination?
The law forbids any distinction or unequal treatment on the basis of:

• the geographic origin, family name, place of residence, belonging or not belonging to an ethnic group, a race, or a certain nation, whether these are real or presumed
• sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, lifestyle
• age, marital status, pregnancy
• state of health, disability, physical appearance, genetic characteristics
• religion, political opinions, union activity

What kinds of inequality of treatment are involved?
The Defender of Rights may intervene in many types of discrimination, for example in matters of:

• access to employment
• access to housing
• access to goods and services, both public and private (access to a nightclub, a public building, credit…)
• access to care and to social services
• education and training (as a condition for enrolment, admission, evaluation). More...

Upholding the rights of the users of public services
The Defender of Rights is responsible for improving relations amongst the citizen, the administration and public services.
He may act as a mediator.
You may refer a case to the Defender of Rights if you disagree with a decision or behaviour by an administration or a public service.
The Defender of Rights may intervene, through consultation, when your previous efforts to resolve a dispute have failed.

Who can refer cases to the Defender of Rights?

• a private person (a natural person acting on her/his own behalf)
• an association or a group
• a company

What public services are concerned?
The Defender of Rights may intervene in a conflict between you and:

• a State administration: prefecture, ministry, taxation centre, consulate…
• a local entity: city hall, general councils of a department or region…
• a health care facility
• a body responsible for managing a public service: Family Benefit Fund (CAF), National Health Insurance (CPAM), Pôle emploi (National Employment Agency), energy suppliers (electricity and gas, EDF-GDF), public transportation system (SNCF)…

What kinds of disputes can be referred?
Your problem with an administration or public service may concern, for example:

• dysfunction of a public service: erroneous decision, failure to respond, lack of information…
• failure to execute a judicial decision favourable to the citizen. More...

Promoting children’s rights and intervening in their defence
Every child has fundamental rights in terms of care, education, justice, social protection…
These are recognized by law, in particular by the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. This treaty was adopted unanimously by the United Nations in 1989 and ratified by France.
You may appeal to the Defender of Rights if you believe that the rights of a child are not being upheld or that there is a situation threatening her/his wellbeing.
A child or an adolescent may also contact the Defender of Rights.

For what children can the Defender of Rights act?

• French and foreign children living in France
• French children living abroad. More...