‘Secular referent’ to work for French public bodies
03-01-2022
Western Europe
CNE.news
A feminist activist looks at posters of a drawing by French cartoonist Charb to read "laïcité", secularism, in Montreuil, on October 20, 2020. Photo AFP
Western Europe
In France, as of this year, "secular referents" will be trained and assigned to all types of state administration and local authority structures. They will be responsible for raising awareness and advising staff in the areas where they work.
The secular referent will be responsible for raising awareness and advising the staff of the structure to which they are assigned. The training of these agents will continue until 2025 to prepare thousands of referents on the French territory.
Thus, from 2022 onwards, a secular referent will be present in every state administration, local authority and public hospital. Thus, many places are concerned: universities, town halls, social action centres, employment offices, urban transport, etc.
The decree establishing a "secular referent" in all public services has been published in the Official Journal, writes Evangeliques.Info.
Foundation of republic
The Minister for the Civil Service, Amélie de Montchalin, and Marlène Schiappa, Minister for Citizenship, welcomed this publication on 28 December. "The presence of secular referents is part of a desire to adapt the 1905 law to today's challenges", said the latter on the website of the Ministry of the Interior. "We are taking action to protect the foundation of our republic," she added.
The 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and State established state secularism in France. The law is based on two principles: the neutrality of the state and the freedom of religious exercise. The law is the backbone of the French principle of 'laïcité', secularism.
The new legislation is in line with the decisions announced by Jean Castex as part of the law reinforcing the respect of the principles of the Republic promulgated on 24 August 2021, also known as the "separatism" law.
