France moves towards symbolic repealing of slavery legislation

France is Thursday expected to move towards repealing outdated legislation that defines people enslaved in its colonies as "moveable goods", in a symbolic move as the country grapples with its colonial legacy. The French were the third largest slave traders in Europe, after the British and the Portuguese. France abolished enslaving humans more than 170 years ago, and in 2001 recognised slavery and the slave trade as "crimes against humanity".