René Pleven, center-right[6] Justice Minister in the Chaban-Delmas and Messmer governments in 1969–1973, proposed in 1972 a new law against racism, which was unanimously adopted by the National Assembly, the 72-546 1 July 1972 Law pertaining to the fight against racism. This law came as a requisite after France's ratification in 1971 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It differed considerably from the 1939 decree, which permitted only the prosecutor's office to initiate a procedure, whereas the 1972 law allowed any representative organization to initiate a legal procedure.
^Asensi, François (14 July 1990). "Loi n° 90-615 du 13 juillet 1990 tendant à réprimer tout acte raciste, antisémite ou xénophobe | Legifrance" [Law #90-615 of 13 July 1990 for the Suppression of Racist, Antisemitic, or Xenophobic Acts]. Legifrance (in French). Journal officiel de la République française. Art. 2 - On March 21st of each year, the date established by the U.N. for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights provides the government with a report on the fight against racism. This report is immediately made public. Art. 2. - Le 21 mars de chaque année, date retenue par l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la Journée internationale pour l'élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination raciale, la Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme remet au Gouvernement un rapport sur la lutte contre le racisme. Ce rapport est immédiatement rendu public.