French Parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code that classified humans as property
The French Parliament has voted to repeal the slavery-era Black Code, a colonial-era law that classified humans as property, with a unanimous vote of 254-0. The Code Noir, which was signed into law by King Louis XIV in 1685, allowed for the exploitation and mistreatment of enslaved people. The repeal is seen as a step towards acknowledging and reckoning with France's past involvement in the slave trade, but many argue that more needs to be done to address the ongoing impacts of slavery and colonialism.
- ▪The Code Noir was a colonial-era law that classified humans as property and allowed for their exploitation and mistreatment.
- ▪The law was signed into effect by King Louis XIV in 1685 and remained on the books for nearly two centuries after France abolished slavery.
- ▪The repeal of the Code Noir is seen as a step towards acknowledging and reckoning with France's past involvement in the slave trade.
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World News French Parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code that classified humans as property By Associated Press Published May 28, 2026, 12:23 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google PARIS — For nearly two centuries after France abolished slavery, the colonial-era law that classified humans as property has remained quietly on its books. On Thursday, the lower house of Parliament voted to wipe it from French law. The National Assembly voted 254-0 — a rare show of unanimity — to adopt a bill repealing the Code Noir, or Black Code, the 1685 decree King Louis XIV signed to govern slaves across France’s colonies. The law turned human beings into chattel, allowing them to be worked, beaten, sold, raped and murdered.
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