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— The Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Commission : a short-lived legal laboratory ? — The Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Commission (HALDE) was established by the law no. 2004-1486 dated 30 December 2004 to fulfil the requirements of the EU legislation and former President Chirac’s desire to set up a body to fight against all kinds of discrimination. In this paper, the authors analyse the former Commission’s work in the area of disputes as well as promotion of equality. With features like easy submission of cases, wide scope of intervention, broad investigative powers and mediation potential, the Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Commission soon became a legal laboratory, much appreciated by the public. So its absorption by the new French Protection of Rights Body, le Défenseur des droits, will doubtlessly raise some concerns about the future of the cause of anti-discrimination.