Elisabeth Borne announced Monday the creation, on the site of the former concentration camp of Montreuil-Bellay, in Maine-et-Loire, of a museum in memory of Travelers interned during the Second World War.
The Prime Minister, alongside the Minister Delegate for Equality Isabelle Rome, announced the project by presenting a new plan to combat racism, anti-Semitism and anti-Gypsyism, and discrimination linked to origin.
Another plan against discrimination linked to sexual orientation should be presented in June.
“It is by making it known that we prevent history from stuttering,” argued Ms. Borne, whose father, of Jewish faith, was deported, then ended his life when his daughter was 11 years old .
Each pupil will thus have, during his schooling, to take part in the “visit of a historical or memorial place linked to racism, anti-Semitism or anti-Gypsyism”, because “it is from childhood that stereotypes can settle. It is in our youth that certain conspiracy theories abound. It is also on our young people that the hateful messages of social networks have the most effect”, developed the head of government.
The Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, also said he was working on the creation of a “civil fine” which will “supply a fund intended to directly help the victims”.
“Let’s imagine an unfair dismissal based on discrimination: the person discriminated against could claim a certain number of things and the court could then impose, in addition to damages, this fine”, he said.
Ms. Borne also promised “total firmness in (the) criminal response”, allowing “the issuance of arrest warrants” against people who “deviate freedom of expression for racist or anti-Semitic purposes” . “There will be no impunity for hate.”
The penalties will also be increased in the event of racist or anti-Semitic expression “even non-public”, for persons holding public authority or responsible for a public service mission, she added.
Against discrimination in hiring, the Prime Minister also wants to “develop a testing policy” in companies, but also for access to housing, which will “highlight good practices, and denounce bad ones”.
A code of good conduct for video games and e-sports will also be put in place. “Reporting devices for all those who are victims of hate speech” in transport are planned by March.
Dominique Raimbourg, president of the National Consultative Commission for Travelers, welcomed the creation of the memorial. “This community needs this story to go into the history of France,” he said.
Questioned by AFP, the president of Crif (Jewish institutions) Yonathan Arfi welcomed the memorial visit offered to each young person in their schooling, and welcomed that “the emphasis is placed on training”. However, behind this “displayed goodwill”, “it will be necessary to see what level of political priority will be granted in each ministry” for its implementation.
“For the first time, a plan includes the issue of racial discrimination, it’s positive,” said the president of SOS racism Dominique Sopo, but “it’s also good that the state looks itself in the face” and that the measures relating to the “penal chain” are “effective”.
01/30/2023 13:07:44 – Paris (AFP) – © 2023 AFP