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In an international context dominated by the cold war and in the wake of the

process of decolonization, the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF)

was created in March 1970, in Niamey, Niger, with the objective of promoting a

dialogue to develop a political and economic solidarity between the French-speaking

peoples.1 This organization, which was first inaugurated as the Agency for Cultural and

Technical Co-operation (ACTC)2, has gradually brought together countries and sub-

national governments from around the world, from Europe (Albania, Andorra,

Belgium, French Community of Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Moldova, Principality of

Monaco, Romania, Switzerland), to North America and the Caribbean (Canada, the

Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec; Dominica, Haiti,

St. Lucia), from Oceania and Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Lebanon, Vietnam, Vanuatu) to

Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African

Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo,

Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali,

Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Säo Tomé and Principe, Senegal,

Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia).3

At institutional level, the highest authority of the organization is the Francophonie

Summit, where every two years the Heads of State and Government of member

countries meet to establish guidelines for cooperation, updating objectives and

strategies.4 A Ministerial Conference is held annually with the objective of ensuring

1 The Organisation was open to those countries where French was the official language or the main minority language.2 The Agency, based in Paris, was renamed in 1996 Intergovernmental Agency of La Francophonie until November 2005, when with the constitutive Charter took the present name of Organisation of La Francophonie.3 In addition to the governments and full members, there are three associated countries (Cyprus, Ghana, Republic of Macedonia) and observers from thirteen countries (Armenia, Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Lithuania, Mozambique, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Hungary).4 The Summit decides also on admission of new members (full or associate) and observer countries.

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continuity in terms of policy among the summits. Its foreign ministers are called to

oversee the implementation of decisions taken in previous summits and to check the

working agenda of the next summit. The Permanent Council of La Francophonie,

which is made up of the ambassadors of the member countries, is responsible for

planning meetings between political leaders and coordinating the work of operational

agencies. The most important is the Francophone University Agency (AUF), which is

responsible for the implementation (or application) of cooperation programmes

adopted at summits.5 There is also a Secretary-General, elected every four years by

the Summit, which acts as the political spokesman for the organization and its official

representative in international forums.6 To complete the institutional framework, there

is a Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie which was created in 1967 in

Luxembourg as the International Association of French-Speaking Parliamentarians

(AIPLF), which has been recognized as having the role of an advisory organization.7 The

Francophone Parliament is based in Paris and brings together representatives of

national assemblies and local governments of member countries and states, once a

year in a plenary session. On the basis of reports submitted by its commissions, 8 the

Parliamentary Assembly expresses opinions and makes recommendations to the

Summit, the Ministerial Conference and the Permanent Council in all areas of activities

relating to the francophone space.9

Since the Organization of La Francophonie mostly brings together countries with a

political and socio-economic post-colonial background, it has been especially active on

initiatives especially on issues such as solidarity, democracy and technological

advancement. Of particular significance is the role played by the Parliamentary

Assembly, which has supported the implementation among member states of

cooperation programmes in the areas of legislative rights, communication and culture. 5 The other operational agencies are The International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), Senghor University of Alexandria, Egypt, as well as the French-speaking television channel TV5 Monde.6 The Secretariat was created as a political body in 1997 at the Summit of Hanoi (Vietnam). The first who hold this new office was the former UN Secretary Boutros Ghali, substituted in 2002 by the former president of Senegal, Diuf, whose mandate was renovated in 2006 and will expire in 2010.7 This recognition occurred at the Summit of Mauritius in 1993 and was confirmed on the Charter of La Francophonie, adopted at the Summit of Hanoi (1997).8 The Francophone Parliament is based on four commissions with sector-based competences: politics; education, communication and cultural affairs; co-operation and development.9 The Francophone Parliament is composed, in addition to the internal commissions, by a General Secretariat and an Executive Committee with the task of ensuring that all the decisions made by the Plenary Assembly will be implemented.

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It also has promoted election observation missions and, in some cases, has come to

suspend the countries’ parliaments in case democratic principles were violated.10 The

organization has also paid particular attention to civil society, especially young people

and women: two permanent ministerial conferences were established, one dedicated

to education (Confemen) and the other to youth and sports (Confejes).11 Furthermore

within the parliament a network of parliamentarians women has been created. OIF’s

political institutions have also created a close cooperative relationship with the

Francophone associations, including the Francophone Business Forum (FFA) and the

Union of Francophone Press (UPF). Inaugurated as a small club based on a shared

language and promotion of its values, over time the Organization of La Francophonie

has actually become engaged in international policy, emerging as an important

multilateral cooperation area12. The protection of linguistic and cultural diversity, the

promotion of democracy and human rights, the support for scientific research and

education as well as the promotion of sustainable development have become the

cornerstones of its strategy for action.13 By working with organizations such as

UNESCO and creating a structured relationship with other linguistic regions,

particularly the English-speaking countries gathered in the Commonwealth,14 the

Francophone Association has had especially after September 11th a major role in

encouraging dialogue among cultures. The OIF has also intensified its cooperation with

the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations, where it gained the

status of observer member (1998), with the objectives of conflicts prevention, political

stability and fighting against inequalities.15 In a globalized world rich in opportunities

and risks, the Organization of La Francophonie, by aiming to improve its internal

dynamics of integration,16 intends to be a strategic space which may contribute to the

progress of worldwide dialogue in terms of development and democracy.

10 OIF has suspended Mauritania in August 2008 after a coup d’état occurred in the country.11 Ministerial Conference of Youth has established a committee responsible for organizing the Francophone games. These games, held every four years, represent an important sport and culture event, intended to promote exchange among young people from French-speaking countries. 12 OIF has three regional offices in Lomé (Togo), Libreville (Gabon) and Hanoi (Vietnam).13 The missions of the organizations were established by a new Charter adopted at the Summit of Antananarivo (Madagascar) in November 2005.14 Six members of the Francophone Organization are part of the Commonwealth.15 OIF played an important role in the processes of national reconciliation in Ivory Coast and Momoros.16 During the Summit of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in 2004 a ten-year strategic plan was adopted to better set the guidelines of the Organization.

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References

De Puig, Lluis Maria. 2008. International Parliaments, Strasbourg: Council of Europe

Francophonie, Organization International of the, in Schiavone, Giuseppe. 2008. International

Organizations. A dictionary and directory, Seventh edition, New York: Palgrave Macmillan:

152-154.

Francophonie, http://www.franceonu.org/spip.php?rubrique953

Francophony, http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/francophony-french-

language_1113/francophony_1932/index.html

La Francophonie, http://www.international.gc.ca/franco/francophonie.aspx

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie,

http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/int-frp.html

Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF), Multilateral Activities of the National

Assembly of Québec, http://www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/associations/act-multi-ang.htm#apf

The International Organisation of La Francophonie,

http://www.foreign.gov.sk/en/foreign_policy/international_francophone_organisation

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