Self-locking descender for a rope comprising: - a first flange provided with a side wall designed to define a running path of the rope, - a cam mounted movable with respect to the first flange to define a first position of the cam where a side wall of the cam is separated from the side wall of the first flange by a first distance, a second position of the cam where the side wall of the cam is separated from the side wall of the first flange by a second distance greater than the first distance and a third position of the cam where the side wall of the cam is separated from the side wall of the first flange by a third distance greater than the second distance, the second position of the cam being between the first position of the cam and the third position of the cam, the cam being designed to block the rope against the side wall of the first flange, - a pin mounted salient from the cam, - a handle mounted movable in rotation with respect to the first flange between a stowing position, a first position of the handle and a second position of the handle, the first position of the handle being between the stowing position and the second position of the handle, - a stop mounted fixedly on the handle, the stop defining first and second opposite faces (8a, 8b), the pin collaborating with the stop to form a mechanical link between the handle and the cam, - a first spring connected to the first flange and to the handle, descender characterized in that - the first flange defines an opening provided with opposite first and second ends, - the pin passes through the first flange through the opening, the pin having a movement demarcated by the opening between the first end and the second end, - the pin is in contact with the first surface of the stop when the handle is in the stowing position, the pin is in contact with the second surface of the stop when the cam is in the second position of the cam, - the pin and the stop define a functional clearance when the stop 8 is moved in rotation so that the pin is devoid of contact with the stop when the handle moves between the first position of handle and the second position of handle, the stop rotates around the axis of rotation of the handle from the second position of handle to push the pin and move the cam, - the first spring applies a force on the handle causing rotation of the stop toward the first position and blocking the pin against the first end of the opening by means of the stop. - a first flange provided with a side wall designed to define a running path of the rope, - a cam mounted movable with respect to the first flange to define a first position of the cam where a side wall of the cam is separated from the side wall of the first flange by a first distance, a second position of the cam where the side wall of the cam is separated from the side wall of the first flange by a second distance greater than the first distance and a third position of the cam where the side wall of the cam is separated from the side wall of the first flange by a third distance greater than the second distance, the second position of the cam being between the first position of the cam and the third position of the cam, the cam being designed to block the rope against the side wall of the first flange, - a pin mounted salient from the cam, - a handle mounted movable in rotation with respect to the first flange between a stowing position, a first position of the handle and a second position of the handle, the first position of the handle being between the stowing position and the second position of the handle, - a stop mounted fixedly on the handle, the stop defining first and second opposite faces (8a, 8b), the pin collaborating with the stop to form a mechanical link between the handle and the cam, - a first spring connected to the first flange and to the handle, - the first flange defines an opening provided with opposite first and second ends, - the pin passes through the first flange through the opening, the pin having a movement demarcated by the opening between the first end and the second end, - the pin is in contact with the first surface of the stop when the handle is in the stowing position, the pin is in contact with the second surface of the stop when the cam is in the second position of the cam, - the pin and the stop define a functional clearance when the stop 8 is moved in rotation so that the pin is devoid of contact with the stop when the handle moves between the first position of handle and the second position of handle, the stop rotates around the axis of rotation of the handle from the second position of handle to push the pin and move the cam, - the first spring applies a force on the handle causing rotation of the stop toward the first position and blocking the pin against the first end of the opening by means of the stop.