United Nations experts on October 28, 2026, condemned the excessive use of force and mass arrests by French authorities during student protests, stating that severe and sometimes irreversible injuries sustained by minor demonstrators were unacceptable and unjustified. This international concern follows widespread unrest that began in September over high living costs and strained public services.
The movement, which started with small protests in September 2026 concerning conditions in state schools, escalated into nationwide violence on October 17. On that day, 550,000 people participated in 110 demonstrations across France, with 110,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. Organizers estimated the total number of participants at 800,000. Police lost control of entire neighborhoods to rioters and looters in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon during the intense outbursts. Since October 17, people have taken to the streets every week across France to express their anger at the police and the government.
Police tactics have faced scrutiny since the beginning of the protests due to life-changing injuries suffered by some young people, including blown-off hands and lost eyes. The United Nations and other human rights experts have also raised concerns about the arrest of nearly 7,000 minors during sometimes-violent school blockades, which they described as disproportionate.
Farida Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Gina Romero, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association; and Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, jointly condemned the violence and mass arrests. They stated that the grave and sometimes irreversible injuries suffered by minor protesters in law enforcement operations were unacceptable and unjustifiable. The UN experts also indicated they are in contact with French authorities regarding the handling of the demonstrations and the concerns they have raised.
Laurent Nunez, France’s Interior Minister, expressed regret for injuries caused by explosive weapons used in crowd control, such as stun grenades. However, he resisted calls to ban these weapons, asserting that security forces must be able to defend themselves. Nunez acknowledged that authorities did not anticipate the scale of the October 17 violence. He credited a massive security operation, including the deployment of 70,000 police officers and paramilitary gendarmes, for maintaining public order at subsequent protests. Nunez also stated that security forces continue to face “a great deal of violence” at demonstrations, including a petrol-bomb attack that injured three gendarmes in Paris on Halloween.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin stated on French TV on November 3, 2026, that since October 17, more than 4,900 suspects have been taken into custody, with 2,290 sent for prosecution and 404 sentenced to jail. The majority of those detained are young men aged 18-25.
The Interior Ministry has launched 161 investigations into allegations of officer violence against protesters since September. The ministry stated that force is used in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
In response to the protests, the French government has announced several measures. The minimum wage (SMIC) will increase by 1.6 percent, effective December 1, 2026, bringing the net monthly wage to €1,502. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also announced measures to support purchasing power on November 9, 2026. Education Minister Edouard Geffray on October 26, 2026, announced various measures to reduce pressure on high school students, increase teaching staff, and provide funding for school maintenance. This includes canceling 836 planned job cuts in public secondary education and creating 500 additional teaching positions in high schools. The government also plans to create 15,000 additional higher education places between 2027 and 2028, and university maintenance grants will be linked to inflation from the 2027 academic year.
Background
- The movement began in September 2026 with small protests over conditions in state schools, escalating into some of the worst civil unrest in years.
- Nationwide demonstrations on October 17, 2026, also brought a resurgence of "yellow-vest" protesters, an anti-establishment movement that faced off against President Emmanuel Macron’s government in 2018-2019 over high fuel prices.
What happens next
The first round of France's presidential election is scheduled for April 18, 2027, with the second round on May 2, 2027. President Emmanuel Macron is ineligible to run for another term. Additionally, France's minimum wage will increase by 1.6 percent, effective December 1, 2026.
Why it matters for Nepal
The unrest in France is unlikely to directly affect the 146 Nepali workers who have obtained labor permits for France as of July 16, 2026, according to the Department of Foreign Employment. However, it could have an indirect impact on the future of Nepali workers in Europe, as Europe accounted for 14.7 percent of the total outgoing Nepali workforce in FY 2025/26, a significant increase from 8.69 percent in the previous fiscal year.
