UN Urges France to Withdraw "Comprehensive Security Law"

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called on Wednesday the French government for the withdrawal of a bill known in France as "Article 24" that limits the freedom to share pictures of police officers.

"The law should be discussed by the French people, but we are concerned about the Article 24 law," Bachelet said during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland. "That is why we mention that it must be revised and be withdrawn."

Meanwhile, the ruling party, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, said it would rewrite the law limiting the rights to publish photos of policemen.

It is worth noting that France was subjected to a wave of protests in the streets after the government presented a security bill in Parliament, to increase surveillance tools and restrict the rights to publish pictures of police officers in the media and on the Internet.

Last Saturday, the streets of the French capital, Paris, witnessed clashes between the security forces and demonstrators rejecting the "comprehensive security" bill that criminalizes the circulation of pictures of police personnel.

The demonstrators threw stones and fireworks at the police, while the security forces used tear gas to disperse the gatherings.

Similar protests erupted in other cities joined by the yellow vest protesters and the trade union bloc.

The draft law criminalizes the circulation of images of police officers in certain circumstances, which opponents describe as a restriction of freedom of expression.

The French authorities announced after last Saturday's confrontations that they would review Article 24 of the "comprehensive security" law that had sparked protests.

French President Emmanuel Macron considered that there is an urgent need to reform the police, after accusations of security personnel practicing brutal violence against the demonstrators.

In a letter sent to the Police Union, Macron confirmed that he would call a meeting of all parties next January to discuss how to improve relations between police and civilians.