What is discrimination?
Discrimination is an offence which consists of treating a person unfavorably on the basis of a ground prohibited by law. The perpetrator of discrimination risks a penalty of up to 3 years' imprisonment and a €45,000 fine.
Discrimination is constituted if a person justifies a difference in treatment by intentionally relying on one of the following criteria:
Origin, sex, family situation, pregnancy, physical appearance, particular vulnerability linked to economic situation, name, place of residence, state of health, loss of autonomy, disability, genetic characteristics, morals, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political opinions, trade union activities, status as a whistleblower, status as a whistleblower facilitator or as a person in contact with a whistleblower, spoken language (ability to express oneself in a language other than French), ethnicity, nation, alleged race, religion.
Most cases of discrimination take place in the following areas:
- Work
- Access to housing
- Access to services: nightclub, restaurant, cab, bank credit, airplane...
- Education: conditions of enrolment, admission, assessment...
- Economic activities (example: boycotting products from a country results in discrimination against the companies producing and supplying those products).
Montpellier commits
Montpellier, a city of diversity, has been a forerunner in a number of actions: hoisting the rainbow flag above City Hall, organizing the first gay and lesbian weddings, the first local authority to sign the Charte L'Autre Cercle and showing solidarity with associations fighting discrimination linked to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Some notable actions:
- The City of Montpellier's signature of the L'Autre Cercle LGBT Commitment Charter for the professional inclusion of LGBT people (2015)
- The City of Montpellier's membership of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) (2016)
- The City of Montpellier's signature of the "Equality against Racism" Charter carried by the Défenseur des Droits (2016)
- The adoption by the City of Montpellier of the "ANVITA" Charter (national association of welcoming cities and territories) for the reception of migrants (2021)
- The City of Montpellier's membership of the Rainbow Cities Network (2023)
- Unesco Master Class (days on the fight against racism and discrimination) for 200 high school students, then for local authority employees