“We are here to celebrate the central role of the French language as a driving force for democracy, human rights and multilateralism,” said Secretary General Alain Berset during his speech at the 19th Francophonie Summit on Creating, innovating and doing business in French, held in Villers-Cotterêts and Paris.

In his bilateral meetings with the Heads of State and Government attending the Summit, the Secretary General pointed out that the Council of Europe played a unique role in holding Russia to account at international level for its aggression against Ukraine, in particular through the work of the European Court of Human Rights and the setting up of the Register of Damage. He also stressed the relevance, even beyond Europe, of the conventions drawn up by the Council of Europe, such as the recent Convention on Artificial Intelligence, which was the first of its kind.

The Summit brought together the 88 member countries of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). The joint co-operation programme agreed between Council of Europe and the OIF pursues two major aims: promoting human rights and the rule of law and raising awareness among OIF member states of the need to ratify international and regional instruments.

The OIF’s mission is to promote the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity; promote peace, democracy and human rights; support education, training, higher education and research; and foster economic co-operation to bolster sustainable development.

Secretary General interview (time code:  4h11 – 4h20).

Source: Council of Europe (available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish)