ABSTRACT
Racial discrimination remains the expression of a psychological dimension situated in the depths of the human being: the desire to affirm oneself through the negation of the other. For the past several years, racial discrimination in France has been foregrounded, despite its strong tradition of tolerance. The 'association movement', comprised of anti-racist organisations, plays an important role in the fight against all kinds of discrimination and exclusion, including the participation of members in the drafting of anti-racist laws in France. The legislator determines which behaviours are forbidden and considered as discriminatory offences to private individuals, to official representatives of public authority and to organs of the press. Racial discrimination, a harmful social phenomenon, involves a great deal of irrationality and fantasy. It is crucial to take accurate measure of it, while strengthening guarantees of objectivity, and without taking sides. This was the recommendation of members in the 1990 Report of the National Committee for the Consultation on Human Rights.
