GENEVA - UN torture prevention experts urged France to take urgent structural measures to address severe prison overcrowding, warning that conditions in some facilities visited may violate the fundamental rights of people deprived of liberty.
The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) concluded its first visit to France, carried out from 17 to 23 May 2026, to assess the treatment of people deprived of their liberty and the safeguards in place to protect them. France ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2008.
"Prison overcrowding is one of the most pressing challenges observed during this visit. It directly undermines the fundamental rights of prisoners, and its consequences extend far beyond the prison environment. In some of the facilities visited, the conditions observed may constitute inhuman or degrading treatment under international law. France must take structural and sustainable measures to remedy this," said Suzanne Jabbour, head of the delegation.
Despite the budgetary constraints facing the UN, the SPT delegation visited a total of 18 places of deprivation of liberty and shared its preliminary observations and recommendations with the authorities.
"We commend the work of the Contrôleur général des lieux de privation de liberté (CGLPL) as France's national preventive mechanism. Its monitoring and recommendations are essential to strengthening the protection of people deprived of liberty," said Jabbour.
"However, recommendations only matter if they lead to action. The French authorities should establish, without delay, a formal mechanism to follow up on the CGLPL's recommendations, and ensure that they are effectively implemented over time. Without a clear commitment from the State, the prevention of torture will remain out of reach," she added.
Following this visit, the Subcommittee will send France a comprehensive confidential report containing its observations and recommendations and encourages the State Party to authorise its publication in order to facilitate implementation.
The SPT delegation comprised Suzanne Jabbour (head of delegation, Lebanon), Omar Battas (Morocco), Hamet Saloum Diakhate (Senegal) and Paul Lam Shang Leen (Mauritius), accompanied by two human rights officers from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
