Francophonie

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Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
Image:Flag of La Francophonie.svg
Motto
"Égalité, Complémentarité, Solidarité"
Image:Map-Francophonie organisation 2006.png
Members and participants of La Francophonie. In addition to countries, Belgian and Canadian subdivisional memberships are also represented.
HeadquartersParis, France
Official languages French
Membership 53 member states
2 associate members
13 observers
Leaders
 -  Executive Secretary Abdou Diouf
Establishment1970

La Francophonie is an international organisation of French-speaking countries and governments, and also, in French, to the community of French-speaking people [1]. Formally known as the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) or the International Organization of La Francophonie[2], the organisation comprises fifty-five member states and governments and thirteen observers. The prerequisite for admission is not the degree of French usage in the member countries, but a prevalent presence of French culture and French language in the member country's identity, usually stemming from France's interaction with other nations in its history. Few of the member states are majority French-speaking aside from France and its overseas possessions, and sub-national members. French functions in several other member states as a common language while having little current presence in the other members, being that the links are mainly historical and cultural.

French geographer Onésime Reclus, brother of Élisée Reclus, coined the word Francophonie in 1880 to refer to the community of people and countries using the French language. In addition to referring to the international organisation, Francophonie may also be used to reference the worldwide community of those people whose native language or second language is French (i.e., the French Sprachraum). Francophonie was then coined a second time by Léopold Sédar Senghor, founder of the Négritude movement, in the review Esprit in 1962, who assimilated it to Humanism [3][4].

The modern Francophonie was created in 1970 . Its motto is égalité, complémentarité, solidarité (equality, complementarity, and solidarity), alluding to France's motto. Started as a small club of Northern French-speaking countries, it has since evolved into an important international organisation[citation needed] whose numerous branches cooperate with the organisation's member states in the fields of culture, science, economy, justice, and peace.

Contents

[edit] Structure

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie has an observer status at the UN General Assembly.

  • 20 Mar 1970: Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT) (Agence de coopération culturelle et technique)
  • 4 Dec 1995: Intergovernmental Agency of the Francophonie (Agence intergouvernementale de la Francophonie)
  • Dec 1998: International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie)

[edit] Executive Secretariat (Secretaries-general)

[edit] Summits

Summits of the Francophonie 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 organisation.

Past Summits:

Future summit:

[edit] Ministerial conferences

[edit] Permanent council

The Permanent Council of the Francophonie consists of Ambassadors of the member countries, and, like the ministers' conferences, its main task is to plan future summits and also to supervise the implementation of summit decisions on a day-to-day basis.

[edit] Intergovernmental agency

The Intergovernmental Agency of the Francophonie is the main operator of the cultural, scientific, technical, economic and legal cooperation programs decided at the Summits. The Agency's headquarters are in Paris and it has three regional branches in Libreville, Gabon; Lomé, Togo; and Hanoi, Vietnam.

[edit] Missions

The Charte de la Francophonie defines the role and missions of the organisation. The current charter was adopted in Antananarivo, on November 23, 2005. The last summit held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 26-27 November 2004 saw the adoption of a strategic framework for the period 2004-2014.

[edit] French language, cultural and linguistic diversity

The primary mission of the organisation is the promotion of the French language as an international language and the promotion of worldwide cultural and linguistic diversity in the era of economic globalisation. In this regard, countries that are members of the Francophonie have contributed largely to the adoption by the UNESCO of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (October 20, 2005).

[edit] Peace, democracy and human rights

Similar to organisations such as the Commonwealth of Nations, the Francophonie have in its stated aims the promotion of democracy and human rights. Following the November 3rd 2000 Déclaration de Bamako [5], the Francophonie has given itself the financial means to attain a number of set objectives in that regard.

In recent years, some participating governments, notably the government of Quebec and Canada, pushed for the adoption of a Charter in order for the organisation to sanction member States that are known to have poor records when it comes to the protection of human rights and the practice of democracy. Such a measure was debated at least twice but was never approved.

[edit] Members

The official list of members is available at the Francophonie website.

Country Status Year joined Language Notes
Image:Flag of Albania.svg Albania member 1999 Albanian official language approximately 30% of young Albanians choose French as their first foreign language[6]
Image:Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra member 2004 Catalan official language president of France is co-prince of Andorra
Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium member 1970 officially trilingual, French included French is the native language of about 37% of the population. [7]. Belgium's French community is also a member separately.
* Image:Flag of Wallonia.svg French Community of Belgium member 1980 French official language a community of Belgium
Image:Flag of Benin.svg Benin member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria member 1993 Bulgarian official language French is spoken by 9% as additional language
Image:Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Burundi.svg Burundi member 1970 French official language former Belgian colony
Image:Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia member 1993 Khmer official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon member 1991 officially bilingual, French included over 90% of country was a French colony
Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada member 1970 Officially bilingual, French included the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick are participating governments; much of Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes formed part of former French Colonies (as part of New France).
* Image:Flag of New Brunswick.svg New Brunswick participating government 1977 officially bilingual, French included province of Canada; former French colony Acadia, New France.
* Image:Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec participating government 1971 French official language province of Canada; former French colony Canada, New France.
Image:Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde member 1996 Portuguese official language Former Portuguese colony with many neighboring French-speaking countries.
Image:Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic member 1973 officially bilingual, French included former French colony
Image:Flag of Chad.svg Chad member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of the Comoros.svg Comoros member 1977 officially trilingual, French included former French colony
Image:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo member 1977 French official language former Belgian colony
Image:Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Republic of the Congo member 1981 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Côte d'Ivoire member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Djibouti.svg Djibouti member 1977 officially bilingual, French included former French colony
Image:Flag of Dominica.svg Dominica member 1979 English official language former French colony (first empire), later British colony, Antillean Creole a French-based creole language is spoken by 90% of the population.
Image:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt member 1983 Arabic official language historical Francophone elite
Image:Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg Equatorial Guinea member 1989 officially trilingual, French included Former Spanish colony surrounded by French-speaking countries.
Image:Flag of Macedonia.svg Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia member 2001 Macedonian official language
Image:Flag of France.svg France member 1970 French official language
Image:Flag of Gabon.svg Gabon member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Greece.svg Greece member 2004 Greek official language French is understood and spoken by 8% of the population
Image:Flag of Guinea.svg Guinea member 1981 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Guinea-Bissau member 1979 Portuguese | official language country surrounded by French-speaking countries. Former Portuguese colony
Image:Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti member 1970 officially bilingual, French included former French colony
Image:Flag of Laos.svg Laos member 1991 Lao official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon member 1973 Arabic, French official languages Under a French mandate from 1920-1943, French language used in schools and universities, and is understood by majority of the population.
Image:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg member 1970 Officially trilingual, French included
Image:Flag of Madagascar.svg Madagascar member 1970-1977
1989 		officially trilingual, French included former French colony
Image:Flag of Mali.svg Mali member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Mauritania.svg Mauritania member 1980 Arabic official language former French colony, French is an administrative language
Image:Flag of Mauritius.svg Mauritius member 1970 English official language former French colony (first empire), later British colony, French is commonly used
Image:Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova member 1996 Romanian official language
Image:Flag of Monaco.svg Monaco member 1970 French official language former French protectorate
Image:Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco member 1981 Arabic official language former French protectorate, French is commonly used
Image:Flag of Niger.svg Niger member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Romania.svg Romania member 1993 Romanian official language French is understood and spoken by 24% of the population [3]
Image:Flag of Rwanda.svg Rwanda member 1970 officially trilingual, French included former Belgian colony
Image:Flag of Saint Lucia.svg Saint Lucia member 1981 English official language Former French and British colony. Antillean Creole a French-based creole language is spoken by 90% of the population.
Image:Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg São Tomé and Príncipe member 1999 Portuguese official language Former Portuguese colony, neighboring French-speaking countries.
Image:Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of the Seychelles.svg Seychelles member 1976 officially trilingual, French included former French colony (first empire), later British colony, French is commonly used
Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg Switzerland member 1996 Officially quadrilingual, French included French is the native language of about 20% of all Swiss.
Image:Flag of Togo.svg Togo member 1970 French official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia member 1970 Arabic official language former French colony, French is commonly used
Image:Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu member 1979 officially trilingual former French and British condominium
Image:Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam member 1970 Vietnamese official language former French colony
Image:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus associate member 2006 Greek and Turkish official languages French is understood and spoken by 12% of the population[citation needed], historical ties through the Lusignan rule in the Middle Ages (Kingdom of Cyprus).
Image:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana associate member 2006 English official language country surrounded by French-speaking countries

[edit] Observers

Country Year joined Language Notes
Image:Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia 2004 Armenian official language Armenian culture closely tied to France via the Franco-Armenian dynasty of the Kingdom of Cilicia during the Middle Ages. See also: Franco-Armenian relations
Image:Flag of Austria.svg Austria 2004 German official language French is spoken by 10% as additional language
Image:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia 2004 Croatian official language French is understood and spoken by 4% of the population
Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic 1999 Czech official language French is understood and spoken by 2% of the population
Image:Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia 2004 Georgian official language
Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 2004 Hungarian official language French is understood and spoken by 2% of the population
Image:Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania 1999 Lithuanian official language French is understood and spoken by 1% of the population
Image:Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique 2006 Portuguese official language former Portuguese colony
Image:Flag of Poland.svg Poland 1996 Polish official language French is understood and spoken by 3% of the population
Image:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia 2006 Serbian official language French is taught in 1/3 of schools.
Image:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia 2002 Slovak official language French is spoken by 2% as additional language
Image:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia 1999 Slovenian official language French is spoken by 4% as additional language
Image:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine 2006 Ukrainian official language

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ FRANCOPHONIE 18/03/2006, Radio France International
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ Radio France International, February 16, 2006
  4. ^ [http://www.rfi.fr/Fichiers/MFI/CultureSociete/1703.asp La France à l’heure de la francophonie culturelle « Saisir du français pour l’imprégner de sa singularité ! »], Radio France International
  5. ^ http://www.droitshumains.org/Francophonie/Bama_declar.htm
  6. ^ http://www.ambafrance-us.org/news/statmnts/2004/barnier_albania090704.asp
  7. ^ Ginsburgh, Victor, Université Catholique de Louvain; Weber, Shlomo, Professor Economy and Director of the Center for Economic Studies of the Southern Methodist University, Dallas, USA, and having a seat in the expert panel of the IMF [2] (June 2006). "La dynamique des langues en Belgique" (in French) (pdf 0.7 MB). Regards économiques, Publication préparée par les économistes de l'Université Catholique de Louvain (Numéro 42). Retrieved on 2007-05-07. “Les enquêtes montrent que la Flandre est bien plus multilingue, ce qui est sans doute un fait bien connu, mais la différence est considérable : alors que 59 % et 53 % des Flamands connaissent le français ou l'anglais respectivement, seulement 19 % et 17 % des Wallons connaissent le néerlandais ou l'anglais. ... 95 pour cent des Bruxellois déclarent parler le français, alors que ce pourcentage tombe à 59 pour cent pour le néerlandais. Quant à l’anglais, il est connu par une proportion importante de la population à Bruxelles (41 pour cent). ... Le syndrome d’H (...) frappe la Wallonie, où à peine 19 et 17 pour cent de la population parlent respectivement le néerlandais et l’anglais.”

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

ar:فرانكوفونية

ca:Francofonia cs:Frankofonie de:Frankophonie es:Francofonía eo:Franclingvio eu:Frankofonia fr:Francophonie ko:프랑코포니 hr:Frankofonija io:Frankofonio it:Francofonia ku:Frankofon ms:La Francophonie nl:Francophonie ja:フランコフォニー no:La Francophonie pl:Frankofonia pt:Francofonia ru:Франкофония sl:Frankofonija sr:Франкофонија fi:La Francophonie sv:La Francophonie vi:Cộng đồng Pháp ngữ tr:Frankofon zh:全球法語區

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