France’s National Assembly is debating a bill to formally repeal the 17th‑century Code Noir, the royal edict that made enslaved people legal property in French colonies. At the same time, Paris has unveiled public art—statues named Chains by Driss Sans‑Arcidet and Solitude by Didier Audrat—that memorialise the abolition of slavery and the resistance against it.

Paris’s New Statues: Concrete Symbols of a Dark Past

In a park near the Assembly, the bronze sculpture Chains stands as a stark reminder of the bondage that once defined French colonial policy. The artwork,created by Driss Sans‑Arcidet , was photographed as lawmaekrs debated the repeal, underscoring the symbolic weight of the legislation. Meanwhile,Didier Audrat’s Solitude depicts the daughter of an African slave holding the proclamation of anti‑slavery leader Louis Delgrès, linking the past to the present fight for recognition.

Max Mathiasin’s Guadeloupean Voice at the Assembly

Lawmaker Max Mathiasin, a representative from Guadeloupe , posed at the entrance of the National Assembly as the bill was introduced. His presence signals the importance of Caribbean perspectives in the debate and highlights the enduring impact of the Code Noir on French overseas territories. According to the report, Mathiasin’s participation underscores the personal stakes for communities that trace their lineae to the era of slavery.

Repealing the Code Noir: A Symbolic Legal Step

The bill’s examination marks the first formal attempt to remove the last legal vestiges of the slave code from French law. As the Assembly considers the repeal, the move is framed as a symbolic step toward acknowledging historical injustices and the systemic dehumanisation embedded in the Code Noir. The report notes that this legislative action comes amid global movements to address historical racism and its modern impacts.

What’s Still Unclear About the Repeal Process?

While the Assembly is reviewing the bill, the source does not detail the timeline for a vote or the speific legislative hurdles that may arise. It also leaves unanswered whether the repeal will be accompanied by reparations or educational reforms. Finally,the report does not indicate how the public artworks will influence the debate or whether additional monuments are planned.