On May 28, 2026, the French National Assembly voted to repeal the Code Noir, a legal code from 1685 that classified enslaved people as movable property. The repeal came 178 years after France abolished slavery in 1848, leaving the discriminatory code technically in force.
The Code Noir, enacted under King Louis XIV, regulated slavery in French colonies, allowing enslaved individuals to be bought, sold, beaten, and killed. Despite abolition, the code remained on the books, a symbol of historical injustice.
The vote was supported by a cross-party majority, with 482 deputies in favor and 12 against. The law now moves to the Senate for final approval. President Emmanuel Macron called the repeal a 'necessary act of historical justice.'
Historians note that while the code was not actively enforced since 1848, its continued existence was a legal anomaly. The repeal follows years of advocacy by anti-racism groups and descendants of enslaved people.
The move is part of broader efforts in France to confront its colonial past, including debates over reparations and the renaming of public spaces.
