Claire Hédon is leaving her post as Defender of Rights at the end of a non-renewable six-year term. Persistent rumors circulated regarding the appointment of a particularly reactionary figure to replace her. Anything is possible in Macron's world, and now it's a done deal: François-Noël Buffet, a senator from the Republicans (LR) party, close to Retailleau in the government, and opposed to numerous changes in rights, particularly those of minorities, recently took office. Claire Hédon, for her part, had experience with poverty, inequality, and discrimination as president of ATD Fourth World from 2015 to 2020. In her book, *The Republic of Rights*, published by Seuil, she presents her observations and affirms her values as an address to her successor. Let us not forget that the Defender of Rights is the only independent administrative authority enshrined in the Constitution (Article 71-1). They are responsible for defending those whose rights are not respected and for ensuring equality for all. Claire Hédon had her work cut out for her. Above all, she had to contend with the disdain, even contempt, of certain ministers, self-serving unions, and elected officials who couldn't tolerate criticism or denunciations of shortcomings in upholding the law. The fact that she was a woman must have bewildered some of them.
Yet, she affirms her faith in the law. "The law fulfills essential functions; it structures and makes life in society possible, it establishes and frames the actions of public authorities. It defines the rights and duties of each individual." However, with clear-sightedness, she observes "a kind of general insensitivity to these violations." Political leaders pit populations against each other, create rivalries, and in doing so, divert "attention from the real collective issues. Encouraging stigmatization only exacerbates inequalities."
The weakening of the law
Anyone who believes their rights have been violated can contact the institution free of charge. Claire Hédon observes a weakening of the law. In 2025, 160,000 requests for intervention were submitted to her. And let's not forget the attacks on human rights defenders and whistleblowers. Complementing the services of the justice system, she has the merit of being accessible and free of charge, serving the most vulnerable.
She quotes Albert Camus: "Fascism is contempt. Conversely, any form of contempt, if it manifests itself in politics, prepares or establishes fascism." (The Rebel).
Drawing on the cases handled during her term, the Defender of Rights emphasizes that social vulnerability hinders access to rights. She reviews child protection, an issue of rare relevance at the time of writing, and the plight of elderly people in nursing homes, who were practically imprisoned during the COVID crisis. The plight of children with disabilities who lack access to education demonstrates the institutional contempt shown towards them. The law exists, yet it's enough to simply disregard it and move on. From discrimination to neglect, ministerial time slips away.
The Risks of Digitalization
Claire Hédon also denounced the effects of the digitalization of relations with an increasingly demanding administration, even though it's not the citizen's responsibility to adapt. The divisions are widening, and resentment is growing. "The administration is adopting a neoliberal profitability logic." More and more citizens are turning to private, fee-based services to access what are normally free. Discrimination is a growing problem in both public and private relations. Claire Hédon highlighted the situation in Mayotte and French Guiana, the repeated use of fines, the desire to push people to their limits, to make them undesirable. The stigmatization of young people, foreigners, and those on welfare is unacceptable. She observes the growing disconnect between the police and the public.
Emerging risks will undermine social cohesion: the precarious status of whistleblowers, children's health threatened by pollution, the challenges of artificial intelligence, and the increasing number of states of emergency that threaten our freedoms.
For six years, Claire Hédon has acted as a watchdog: "making visible the social changes and global risks that weigh on the effectiveness of our rights."
* Claire Hédon
The Republic of Rights
Ed. du Seuil, 2026
To contact the services of the Defender of Rights, by free, stamp-free mail:
* Defender of Rights
Free Reply 71120
75342 Paris CEDEX 07
https://monde-libertaire.net/?articlen=9113
_________________________________________
Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten