Amnesty International France issued a formal warning regarding the use of excessive police force against high school students participating in nationwide demonstrations over deteriorating learning conditions, overcrowded classrooms, and severe staff shortages.
Addressing the situation via public statements, the human rights organization stressed that a significant proportion of the demonstrating students are minors who require state protection rather than physical repression. While acknowledging that instances of violence by some protesters have occurred and describing such acts as unacceptable, Amnesty emphasized that law enforcement responses must strictly adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality.
Documented Instances of Excessive Force and Improper Tactics
Amnesty International France highlighted specific cases of severe physical harm and questionable police tactics used during school blockades:
- Projectiles and Facial Injuries: The organization documented the case of a 14-year-old student in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, Val-d'Oise, who suffered a fractured jaw and lost multiple teeth after being struck at close range by a projectile launched from a grenade launcher. Amnesty reiterated that crowd-control grenade launchers should only be deployed under conditions of widespread violence when no alternative measures exist, and must never be fired directly at individuals.
- Prohibited Restraint Techniques: The group reported that a 14-year-old girl was forcibly grabbed by the neck by an officer outside her high school, reminding authorities that chokehold techniques and neck restraints are prohibited under French law enforcement guidelines.
- Mass Arrests of Minors: Amnesty raised alarms over the rapid escalation in student detentions, noting official figures of 164 arrests on Monday, 440 on Tuesday, and 625 on Wednesday. The group emphasized that under international legal frameworks, the arrest and detention of juvenile protesters must strictly serve as a measure of last resort.
Government Defense and Official Investigations
In response to growing public scrutiny, French police spokesperson Agathe Foucault defended the security response as necessary and proportionate, asserting that law enforcement personnel were confronting organized agitators engaging in property damage and direct violence against teachers, students, and officers.
However, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN) has launched multiple internal investigations into injuries sustained by adolescents during the demonstrations. Additionally, the independent Defender of Rights office has opened formal inquiries into specific incidents of police conduct.
Calls for De-escalation and Protection of Student Rights
Amnesty International France urged state authorities to halt weaponized crowd-control methods and prioritize diplomatic de-escalation. Reaffirming its commitment to supporting peaceful assembly, the organization stated that students mobilizing for better educational resources are exercising fundamental rights and should be listened to through structured dialogue rather than subjected to police repression.
