by the Conférence Permanente des Chargés de Mission Egalité-Diversité de l'Enseignement Supérieur (CPED)
This article was published in Le Monde online, on January 1, 2024 (to access Le Monde's article)
Internationally, universities are developing inclusive policies, summed up in three words: equality, diversity, inclusion. In France, since 2013, universities have been obliged to create gender equality missions. Extending this obligation, the majority of them include in their scope the fight against discrimination in the same way as the fight against sexual and sexist violence or harassment.
The adoption of the "law to control immigration, improve integration". of December 19, 2023 raises questions about the relevance of our missions. Can the presidency of a university or the management of a grande école still appoint colleagues to implement equality and anti-discrimination policies, at a time when a law is instituting unequal treatment of the student community based on the criterion of nationality?
How can we respond to the contradictory demands of a government that asks us to work towards inclusion, to formalize and implement action plans for equality, to institute and operate mechanisms for listening to and reporting acts of violence, discrimination and harassment, while at the same time introducing legislation that weakens our most vulnerable students?
A shocking breach of equality
How can we still simply talk about equality and non-discrimination, fight racism and anti-Semitism head on (as we did at our last meetings in Nanterre, on December 7 and 8, 2023), commit ourselves to the design and implementation of an ambitious equality policy, with students to whom the law clearly indicates that they are objects of suspicion?
In addition to the loss of confidence in our institutions, our foreign students will live in anxiety and fear, as the law weakens their right to residency. And we're not forgetting that these feelings also affect our colleagues, as well as foreign administrative and technical staff, who run our higher education and research establishments on fixed-term contracts, and who will all find themselves even more vulnerable depending on the nature of their contract, length of stay, etc.Add to your selections
This breach of equality is truly shocking, and runs counter to every incentive to make our campuses protective and protected spaces where hospitality, trust and benevolence guide our interactions. Our presence on the ground at universities and grandes écoles makes us direct witnesses to the difficulties encountered by foreign students, despite the measures taken by the establishments to welcome them with dignity and offer them total equality of treatment.
The law institutes unequal treatment
It also enables us to anticipate a number of perverse effects of the law in the areas in which we intervene. A law that institutes unequal treatment can only reinforce the power relations that already exist in higher education and research, for example between doctoral students and their research supervisors, or between internship tutors and interns.
Among the painful cases we have to deal with as part of our support procedures for victims of violence, harassment and discrimination, the example of foreign students who don't know how to refuse the advances of a teacher for fear of not validating their year or not getting a doctoral contract is a recurrent one.
Similarly, difficulties in accessing housing are at the root of situations of domestic violence by women. "Lodgers malicious: policies that create insecurity are fertile ground for aggressors who take advantage of vulnerabilities. This law risks reinforcing the difficulty of refusing behavior that we know thrives among the most vulnerable populations, especially the precarious and isolated.
A challenge to our mission
Worse still, it risks generating new vulnerabilities and new forms of discrimination. There is a real risk of sexual harassment, for example, in the form of obtaining accommodation or a certificate to renew a residence permit in exchange for sexual favors.
The reaction of incomprehension in the face of such a text, in terms of both its content and its effects, is unanimous among the staff involved in our missions, both at the level of the vice-presidents of the establishments and among those in charge of missions, referents working on equality between women and men, the fight against sexist, sexual and homophobic violence, and against all types of discrimination.
The missions entrusted to us are aimed precisely at the inclusion of all, an inclusion that can only be effective in the context of constant promotion of equality and diversity. We are convinced of this, and work on this basis every day. But over and above the provisions likely to affect the student community and higher education staff alone, such a law contradicts the values that guide us, and profoundly questions each and every one of us as to its usefulness and the meaning of its actions.
Philippe Liotard
President of the Conférence permanente des chargées et chargés de mission égalité-diversité de l'enseignement supérieur (Permanent Conference of Equality and Diversity Officers in Higher Education)
Signatories:
| Name | Position | Establishment | |
| Adda | Fanny | Anti-discrimination and secularism referent | Sciences Po Paris |
| Alazard | Florence | Vice-president in charge of working conditions, social and human relations, disability and anti-discrimination. | University of Tours |
| Asset | Sarah | Director of Student and Campus Life | PSL University |
| Benoit-Moreau | Florence | Vice President, Student Life and Social Responsibility | PSL University |
| Berthonneau | Claire | Equality and anti-discrimination officer | Clermont Auvergne University |
| Béteau | Jean-François | Co-head of Equality | Grenoble INP - UGA |
| Blidon | Marianne | Equality and Diversity Officer | University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne |
| Bluteau | Hélène | In charge of the Equality between women and men and the fight against gender-based, sexist and sexual violence. | Sorbonne Paris Nord University. |
| Bohuon | Anaïs | Gender Equality Project Manager | Paris-Saclay University |
| Bonnin | Marie | Equality Representative | Le Havre Normandie University |
| Boratav | Sarah | Equality-Diversity Project Manager | Paris-Saclay University |
| Bourbon | Nicolas | Equality and Non-Discrimination Mission | University of Paris Nanterre |
| Bouriot | Béatrice | Gender Equality Officer | UTBM Belfort |
| Bretin | Hélène | In charge of the Equality between women and men and the fight against gender-based, sexist and sexual violence. | Sorbonne Paris Nord University. |
| Briand | Philippe | Vice-Chairman of the Board in charge of Human Resources | Savoie Mont Blanc University |
| Brunet Touchard | Elise | project manager, mission égalité | Toulouse Capitole University |
| Bui-Xuan | Olivia | Vice-President in charge of Equality, Anti-discrimination and Diversity | Evry University |
| Burgaud | Stéphanie | Deputy Director of Equalities and Student Life | Sciences Po Toulouse |
| Coal merchant | Élodie | Equality, diversity and inclusion officer | University of Nîmes |
| Chavrier | Didier | Vice-Chairman responsible for equality, diversity, inclusion and quality of life at work, secularism, racism and anti-Semitism. | University of Orléans |
| Chazalon | Elodie | Vice-President in charge of Equality and QVCT | La Rochelle University |
| Christin | Clémence | Vice-president in charge of equality, parity and civic life | Caen University |
| Colisson | Pascale | Representative for Equality, the fight against discrimination, sexist and sexual violence and hazing | Université Dauphine I PSL |
| Corbion | Lycette | Equality officer | Toulouse Capitole University |
| Courduriès | Jérôme | Head of Gender Equality and the Fight against SGBV | Toulouse Jean Jaurès University |
| D'haese | Violette | Project Manager, Equality and Anti-Discrimination Mission | Sorbonne University Faculty of Arts |
| Danet | Anaïs | Equality and diversity officer | University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne |
| Daubias | Philippe | Equality referent | ENS Lyon |
| De Bosscher | Sabine | Gender Equality Officer | Lille University |
| Del Vecchio | Nathalie | Deputy Director of Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility, Faculty of Science and Engineering | Toulouse III Paul Sabatier University |
| Delmotte | Marine | Gender equality and anti-discrimination project manager | Grenoble Alpes University |
| Derenemesnil | Maïlys | former gender equality officer | University of Paris Nanterre |
| Drux | Orlane | Gender equality officer | INSA Rouen Normandie |
| Dumond | Carole | Head of Quality of Life and Working Conditions, Equality Mission | University of Poitiers |
| Etiemble | Angélina | Gender and Women's Equality Officer | Le Mans University |
| Ferré | Nathalie | Responsible for racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination | Sorbonne Paris Nord University |
| Fleury | Marine | Delegate for equality and the fight against gender discrimination | University of Picardie Jules Verne |
| Frey | Pascal | Vice President Human Resources, Finance and Digital Services | Sorbonne University |
| Gambette | Philippe | Co-referent equality ComUE Paris-Est Sup | ComUE Paris-Est Sup |
| Gasnier | Flore | Referent for the fight against racism and anti-Semitism | Angers University |
| Gatti | Maxime | In charge of prevention and awareness actions to combat gender-based and sexual violence and all forms of discrimination and harassment. | Grenoble Alpes University |
| Geneix-Rabault | Stéphanie | MCF-HDR in arts and language sciences, in charge of "equality-diversity" and "racism-anti-Semitism" projects | University of New Caledonia |
| Gillet | Alison | Gender-based, sexual and homophobic violence officer | University of Haute Alsace |
| Godfroy | Anne-Sophie | MCF in philosophy, vice-president of CPED | Paris-Est Créteil University |
| Guillopé | Colette | Honorary member of CPED, in charge of the Parité mission (2011-2016) | Paris-Est Créteil University |
| Hébert | Clara | In charge of Equalities and Student Life | Sciences Po Toulouse |
| Herrera | Marta | Equality and diversity referent | Centrale Nantes |
| Jobert-Martini | Vanina | Vice President Equality and anti-discrimination | Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University |
| Kivits | Joëlle | Vice-President Equality, Diversity, Inclusion | Université Paris Cité |
| Kraus | Isabelle | Vice President Equality, Parity, Diversity | University of Strasbourg |
| Lachgar | Siham | Head of the student services department and head of the campaign against gender-based and sexual violence | AgroParisTech |
| Lailic | Chloé | Equality Officer | INSA Rennes |
| Lallemand-Stempak | Nathalie | Deputy Director in charge of societal issues | IAE Paris - University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne |
| Lambard | Claire | Diversity and Inclusion Officer | ENS Paris-Saclay |
| Le Fichant | Françoise | Vice President Social Responsibility | Nantes University |
| Lebrun | Sylvie | Referent for gender equality | Institut d'Optique Graduate School |
| Lécuyer | Nolwenn | Honorary member of CPED | |
| Leidwanger | Séverine | Vice-Dean Equality, Diversity, Inclusion | Université Paris Cité Faculty of Science |
| Lemaire-Patin | Alexis | Gender equality, anti-violence and anti-discrimination officer | Sciences Po Bordeaux |
| Letellier | Aymma | Equality officer | Caen University |
| Liotard | Philippe | President of CPED, racism and anti-Semitism referent | Lyon 1 University |
| Lipani | Marie-Christine | Equality and anti-discrimination officer | Bordeaux Montaigne University |
| Louargant | Sophie | Vice President, Equality and Anti-Discrimination | Grenoble Alpes University |
| Makhlouf | Abdenacer | University Professor, Delegate Vice-President for Equality and Diversity | University of Haute Alsace |
| Merland | Guérande | Equality and Non-Discrimination Mission | University of Paris Nanterre |
| Meziani | Yamina | Policy & Parity, Equality, Diversity Officer | Bordeaux University |
| Minet-Letalle | Catherine | Vice-Chairwoman in charge of equality and anti-discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence | Université Littoral Côte d'Opale |
| Morin messabel | Christine | Vice President Equality and Anti-Discrimination | Lumière Lyon 2 University |
| Niget | David | Equality officer | Angers University |
| Sponsor | Anne | Vice-president in charge of equality between women and men | University of Artois |
| Passirani | Catherine | Vice President International and Equality | Angers University |
| Pernoud | Hermeline | Equality and diversity project manager | Lille University |
| Peronnet | Frédérique | Vice-Dean, Human Resources and Social Issues, Faculty of Science and Engineering | Sorbonne University |
| Petrini | Michela | Equality Advisor to the President of Sorbonne University | Sorbonne University |
| Piris | Yolande | University Professor, Head of Equality between Men and Women and the Fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence | University of Southern Brittany |
| Plaud | Cécile | Teacher-researcher in social sciences, member of the anti-discrimination network | ENSTA Bretagne |
| Doorkeeper | Natacha | Equality referent | ENS Lyon |
| Quinet | Catherine | Referent for racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination | Sciences Po Lille |
| Rannoux | Catherine | Vice-president of the Academic Council, in charge of Equality and Diversity | University of Poitiers |
| Ravet | Hyacinthe | Vice-Dean for Equality and the Fight against Discrimination | Sorbonne University Faculty of Letters |
| Revenin | Régis | Vice-Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Faculty of Sociétés & Humanités | Université Paris Cité |
| Sarcinelli | Alice Sophie | Project Manager, Equality Diversity Inclusion | Université Paris Cité's UFR SHS |
| Saupin | Catherine | Gender Equality Officer | Sciences Po Lille |
| Schlotterer | Françoise | Respect and Equality Coordinator | Télécom Paris |
| Schneider | Anne | Secretary of CPED, Equality F/G and anti-discrimination officer | INSPE-Université de Caen-Normandie |
| Sèdes | Florence | Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility | Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier University |
| Séjalon-Delmas | Nathalie | Vice President, Environmental and Social Transition | Toulouse University |
| Smirou | Emmanuelle | Vice-President Equality | Rennes 2 University |
| Sorokina | Alina | Referent in the fight against gender-based and sexual violence | ComUE University of Lyon |
| Tchou | Nicoletta | Vice President, Social Responsibility, in charge of equality and anti-discrimination | University of Rennes |
| Texier-Picard | Rozenn | Honorary member of CPED | |
| Tharaud | Delphine | Referent for Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual and Gender-based Violence | University of Limoges |
| Thomas | Christelle | Delegate for Social Transition, Diversity & Inclusion | Télécom Paris, Institut Polytechnique de Paris |
| Weaver | Pascal | Vice-President, Equality-Diversity-Inclusion | University of Lorraine |
| Toulouse | Jeanne | Co-referent for the fight against discrimination, harassment and violence | ENSTA Bretagne |
| Travert | Arnaud | Vice-president in charge of equality, parity and civic life | Caen University |
| Trotot | Caroline | Vice-President Equality | Gustave Eiffel University |
| Van De Bor | Véronique | Vice President, Social Policy, Equality and Diversity | Côte d'Azur University |
| Vaton | Sandrine | Women and Men Equality Representative | ITM Atlantic |
| Vuattoux | Arthur | Head of the Equality between women and men, fight against gender-based, sexist and sexual violence department | Sorbonne Paris Nord University. |
| Zecchi | Violette | Gender equality and anti-discrimination officer, Vice-presidency of Equality | Grenoble Alpes University |
| Zenati | Fatima | Gender equality officer | University of Paris 8 - Vincennes at Saint-Denis |
| Zuber | Valentine | Representative for Equality, the fight against discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism and gender-based and sexual violence | École pratique des hautes études-PSL |
key words: equality - diversity - inclusion - discrimination - immigration law - universities - higher education