UN experts sound alarm at excessive use of force in French student protests | Protests News
UN Experts Urge Review of French Police Tactics Amid Student Protests
28 October 2026
UNITED NATIONS — A group of United Nations experts has issued a stern warning regarding the “excessive use of force” by French authorities in response to ongoing nationwide student protests. In a statement released Wednesday, the experts highlighted concerns about the disproportionate scale of arrests, particularly among minors, stating that such actions dissuade individuals from exercising their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
Among the experts were Gina Romero, the special rapporteur on the freedom of peaceful assembly, and Farida Shaheed, the UN expert on cultural rights. They criticized the French government’s approach, emphasizing that despite recent initiatives aimed at facilitating dialogue with students, a primary focus on security measures has overshadowed the underlying issues prompting the protests.
Since mid-September, student demonstrations across France have been fueled by grievances related to deteriorating conditions in high schools, including issues such as crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and teacher shortages. The protests have also expanded to address broader concerns about the rising cost of living, which have led to incidents of rioting and looting.
According to France’s Interior Ministry, approximately 410,000 people participated in the protests over the weekend, with 70,000 security personnel deployed and around 1,000 arrests made. A week earlier, violence erupted during demonstrations that resulted in the vandalism of public buildings and the looting of hundreds of businesses, with police arresting 2,700 individuals. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez pledged to maintain a strict response to future unrest.
Alice Cohen-Morzadec, a representative of the Union Etudiante, remarked on the situation: “What we are seeing right now is a general outburst of resentment against [French President Emmanuel] Macron and his policies that have destroyed our rights, destroyed our living conditions.”
Analysts note that the government has struggled to satisfy student demands amidst a severe fiscal crisis and planned budget cuts, which have negatively impacted the education budget.
In a separate incident that raised further alarm, a teenager in Lille reportedly lost a hand when a police grenade exploded during clashes between officers and student protestors. The UN experts condemned such acts, labeling them as “unacceptable and unjustifiable.”
The experts reiterated the importance of a thorough review of policing strategies by French authorities to better accommodate the expression of demonstrators’ concerns and support peaceful resolutions to social conflicts. They indicated that they are in contact with French officials to address these pressing issues.
