International Francophonie

La Francophonie internationale is the political grouping, within the International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF), of the States and governments of French speakers. The IOF, of which Canada was a founding member in 1970, has 56 members and 14 observers in 2010, including the governments of Quebec and New Brunswick. These States and governments meet at a Summit every two years to define the IOF's direction and programming. The Summit held in Quebec City in October 2008 coincided with the city's 400th anniversary. In their Declaration, the Heads of State and Government called for the reinforcement of legal and judicial cooperation in the Francophone world, as put forward at the Conférence des Ministres de la Justice de la Francophonie, held a few months earlier in Paris.

In 2010, the Office's resources, which work in close cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and other departments, remain poised to define, coordinate and promote Canada's positions on which it will base its contribution to various Francophone issues, such as the Summit held in Montreux, Switzerland, in October, 2010. The Bamako Declaration, the normative Francophone framework for fundamental rights and democracy which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, was the occasion for a first true assessment of the Francophone world's contribution to their protection.

Early 2010 was marked by the earthquake in Haiti, a northern hemisphere member of la Francophonie since its beginning. The earthquake created "an unprecedented situation, amplified by the fact that it struck the country's most populous region and its economic and administrative centre." At the initiative of Canada and the European Union, the IOF was already paying special attention to reforming the Haitian legal system. The concerted effort will continue, even grow, and move toward rebuilding on new bases. The Office of La Francophonie is a part of the effort.

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Jean-François Bonin
Legal Counsel
International Francophonie