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Francophony (French la Francophonie), a term coined in 1880 by French geographer Onésime Reclus to designate the community of people and countries using French, is an international organization of French-speaking countries and governments. Some 50 States and governments are members of the organization and 6 others ( Belgium, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia) are invited observers of its Summits. French is at least a minor language in all its member states, and is in fact the sole major language of only a few.A good number of the member States have a bad record when it comes to the protection of human rights and the practice of democracy. A proposed measure to sanction such countries was debated at least twice, but was not approved.
The modern Francophonie was created in 1970. Its motto is égalité, complémentarité, solidarité (equality, complementarity, and solidarity). Started as a small club of Northern French-speaking countries, it has since evolved into an important international organization whose numerous branches cooperate with the organization's member states in the fields of culture, science, economy, justice, and peace.
Today, La Francophonie is an important forum for discussions of world wide cultural and linguistic diversity. Together with other international organizations such as the UNESCO, La Francophonie is concerned with the evolution of linguistic and cultural diversity in an era of the globalization of trade. It is working closely with some other equivalent organizations in the hispanophonie and lusophonie (see the Latin Union and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries).
1 Structure
The International Organization for Francophony has an observer status at the UN General Assembly.
1.1 Summits
Francophony summits are held every two years, at which time the leaders of the member states have an opportunity to meet and develop strategies and goals for the organization.
Past Summits:
- Paris ( 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa)
- Quebec City ( 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train)
- DakarDakar (2,079,000 inhabitants (2000)) is the capital city of Senegal, located at the country's Atlantic coast. Its position, on western edge of Africa, is an advantageous departure point for trans-Atlantic and European trade; this fact aided its growth int ( 19891989 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 7 Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan following the death of Hirohito. The Heisei period begins January 8 the Kegworth Air Disaster A British Midland Boeing 737 cra)
- Paris ( 19911991 like 2002, is a palindromic year. It also has the same calendar as 2002, including Easter on March 31. It is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January January 2 Sharon Pratt Dixon is sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC becoming the first blac)
- MauritiusRepublic of Mauritius Republique de Maurice ( In Detail) National motto: Stella Clavisque Maris Indici( Latin: "Star and Key of the Indian Ocean" Official languages De facto: English, French and Creole Capital Port Louis President Sir Anerood Jugnauth Pri ( 19931993 is a common year starting on Friday and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003 Events January January 1 Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic.)
- Cotonou ( 1995)
- Hanoi ( 1997)
- Moncton ( 1999)
- Beirut ( 2002)
