France Repeals 17th-Century 'Black Code' Slavery Law

The French Parliament has voted to repeal the Code Noir, a slavery-era law that formally classified enslaved people as movable property.

The move represents a symbolic effort by the French state to acknowledge its colonial history and dismantle the legal remnants of institutionalized slavery. By striking the law from the books, the government aims to confront the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.

The Code Noir, or "Black Code," was originally introduced in 1685 ^[1] under the reign of King Louis XIV. For centuries, the decree provided the legal framework for the treatment of enslaved people in French colonies, stripping them of basic human rights and treating them as assets rather than citizens.

President Emmanuel Macron said the repeal was a necessary step toward national reconciliation. The vote took place in the National Assembly in Paris, where officials noted the historical weight of the decision. The legislation had remained on the books despite the long-ago abolition of slavery in French territories.

Supporters of the repeal said the existence of the code was an affront to modern human rights. The process of removing the 1685 ^[1] law is intended to serve as a formal apology, and a recognition of the systemic violence inherent in the colonial era.

While the repeal does not change current French law regarding human rights, it removes a legal ghost from the state's archives. The action follows years of pressure from historians and activists to address the specific legal mechanisms used to justify slavery in the 17th century.