François Zimeray
Encyclopedia
François Zimeray, lawyer
, politician
and diplomat
, was born in 1961. He was a Member of the European Parliament
for the Party of European Socialists
from 1999 to 2004, sitting on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy. He served as President of Greater Rouen-Normandy from 2002 through to his 13 February 2008 appointment by the French Council of Ministers as Ambassador for Human Rights, at the proposal of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights.
, first made his mark in 1989 when at just 27 years old he was elected Mayor of Petit-Quevilly, a communist stronghold since 1945 (23,000 inhabitants). The election made him the youngest mayor of any municipality with over 20,000 inhabitants in France. He was twice re-elected mayor in the first round of voting and won a seat on the departmental council, beating national records time and again. He founded the first association of mayors for environment, "Eco-Maires".
His commitment to human rights dates back to 1979, when he founded his first association for Cambodian refugees before being in the camps on the Thai border where he forged his political beliefs.
At 37, he became a Member of the European Parliament. Youngest member of the French socialist delegation, Zimeray worked in the Legal Affairs Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy. He is the author of eight reports adopted unanimously.
Zimeray is a prominent figure well-known for his support of the Israeli peace camp and the Palestinian moderates in 2002, and for raising questions on the use of public monies to finance terrorism. He actively supports The People's Voice
, the initiative by Palestinian Sari Nusseibeh
and Israeli Ami Ayalon
. And when he launched a call for a parliamentary fact-finding committee on the use of European funds by the Palestinian Authority, the Party of European Socialists cut off his speaking time and the French Socialist Party declined to nominate him for the 2004 European elections. In the general election, he received the support of many leading politicians including Laurent Fabius, Robert Badinter
, François Léotard
and Corinne Lepage
.
He subsequently founded the Cercle Léon Blum and worked to promote dialogue between European leaders and Middle Eastern political and civil society representatives as Chairman of the Medbridge Strategy Center founded in Brussels
with prominent European politicians such as Willy De Clercq
, François Léotard, Emma Bonino
and Ana Palacio
. In 2006, he rallied support for Darfur
. He played a decisive role in the organisation of the European campaign for this cause. In 2007, he visited the Darfur refugee camps in Chad
with Bernard-Henri Lévy
and drafted principles for engagement signed by the leading French presidential candidates. He publicly challenged two Sudan
ese ministers invited by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. François Zimeray is a member of the Paris Bar and the International Criminal Bar of The Hague. He has represented victims in trials of Khmer Rouge
leaders, successfully campaigned to free imprisoned political opponents in Laos
, and defended a child soldier in Congo/Kinshasa. He has also spoken before the European Court of Human Rights
. François Zimeray is a member of the French Institute of International Legal Experts (IFEJI). Bernard Kouchner
, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
, most recently placed him in charge of preparations for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
.His missions as France's Ambassador at large for human rights lead Zimeray in Chechnya, Colombia, Gaza, Israel, Sri Lanka camps, Turkmenistan, Burma, Moscow, Thailand, Baghdad, Kirghizstan, Uganda, Chad, Burundi... In november 2011, he is received in Rangoon by the Lady Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, was born in 1961. He was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the Party of European Socialists
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
from 1999 to 2004, sitting on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy. He served as President of Greater Rouen-Normandy from 2002 through to his 13 February 2008 appointment by the French Council of Ministers as Ambassador for Human Rights, at the proposal of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights.
Career
This lawyer, a close friend of Prime Ministern Laurent FabiusLaurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius is a French Socialist politician. He served as Prime Minister from 17 July 1984 to 20 March 1986. He was 37 years old when he was appointed and is, so far, the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic.-Early life:...
, first made his mark in 1989 when at just 27 years old he was elected Mayor of Petit-Quevilly, a communist stronghold since 1945 (23,000 inhabitants). The election made him the youngest mayor of any municipality with over 20,000 inhabitants in France. He was twice re-elected mayor in the first round of voting and won a seat on the departmental council, beating national records time and again. He founded the first association of mayors for environment, "Eco-Maires".
His commitment to human rights dates back to 1979, when he founded his first association for Cambodian refugees before being in the camps on the Thai border where he forged his political beliefs.
At 37, he became a Member of the European Parliament. Youngest member of the French socialist delegation, Zimeray worked in the Legal Affairs Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy. He is the author of eight reports adopted unanimously.
Zimeray is a prominent figure well-known for his support of the Israeli peace camp and the Palestinian moderates in 2002, and for raising questions on the use of public monies to finance terrorism. He actively supports The People's Voice
The People's Voice
The People's Voice is an Israeli-Palestinian civil initiative dedicated to advancing the process of achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians...
, the initiative by Palestinian Sari Nusseibeh
Sari Nusseibeh
Sari Nusseibeh , and raised in Jerusalem, is a Palestinian professor of philosophy and president of the Al-Quds University in Jerusalem...
and Israeli Ami Ayalon
Ami Ayalon
Amihai "Ami" Ayalon is an Israeli politician and a former member of the Knesset for the Labor Party. He was previously head of the Shin Bet, Israel's secret service, and commander-in-chief of the Navy...
. And when he launched a call for a parliamentary fact-finding committee on the use of European funds by the Palestinian Authority, the Party of European Socialists cut off his speaking time and the French Socialist Party declined to nominate him for the 2004 European elections. In the general election, he received the support of many leading politicians including Laurent Fabius, Robert Badinter
Robert Badinter
Robert Badinter is a high-profile French criminal lawyer, university professor and politician mainly known for his struggle against the death penalty, the abolition of which he successfully sponsored in Parliament in 1981...
, François Léotard
François Léotard
François Gerard Marie Léotard is a retired French politician. The late singer and actor Philippe Léotard was his brother....
and Corinne Lepage
Corinne Lepage
Corinne Dominique Marguerite Lepage, also known as Corinne Lepage is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the North-West constituency....
.
He subsequently founded the Cercle Léon Blum and worked to promote dialogue between European leaders and Middle Eastern political and civil society representatives as Chairman of the Medbridge Strategy Center founded in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
with prominent European politicians such as Willy De Clercq
Willy De Clercq
Willy Clarisse Elvire Hector, Viscount De Clercq was a Belgian liberal politician.De Clercq was born in Ghent...
, François Léotard, Emma Bonino
Emma Bonino
Emma Bonino is an Italian politician, former Member of the European Parliament and current Member of the Italian Senate. She is a leading member of the Italian Radicals, a political party that supports economic and social libertarianism, and human rights...
and Ana Palacio
Ana Palacio
Ana Isabel de Palacio y del Valle-Lersundi in Madrid, daughter of Luis María de Palacio y de Palacio, 4th Marqués de Matonte, and wife Luisa Mariana del Valle-Lersundi y del Valle, was Spain's Minister for Foreign Affairs in the People's Party government of José María Aznar from July 2002-March...
. In 2006, he rallied support for Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
. He played a decisive role in the organisation of the European campaign for this cause. In 2007, he visited the Darfur refugee camps in Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
with Bernard-Henri Lévy
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French public intellectual, philosopher and journalist. Often referred to today, in France, simply as BHL, he was one of the leaders of the "Nouveaux Philosophes" movement in 1976.-Early life:...
and drafted principles for engagement signed by the leading French presidential candidates. He publicly challenged two Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese ministers invited by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. François Zimeray is a member of the Paris Bar and the International Criminal Bar of The Hague. He has represented victims in trials of Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
leaders, successfully campaigned to free imprisoned political opponents in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, and defended a child soldier in Congo/Kinshasa. He has also spoken before the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
. François Zimeray is a member of the French Institute of International Legal Experts (IFEJI). Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
, most recently placed him in charge of preparations for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
.His missions as France's Ambassador at large for human rights lead Zimeray in Chechnya, Colombia, Gaza, Israel, Sri Lanka camps, Turkmenistan, Burma, Moscow, Thailand, Baghdad, Kirghizstan, Uganda, Chad, Burundi... In november 2011, he is received in Rangoon by the Lady Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
Distinctions
- Knight of the Legion of Honor (Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur)
- Officer of the Royal Order of Cambodia (Officier de l'Ordre Royal du Cambodge
Public office
- From 1989 to 2001 Mayor of Petit-Quevilly; Vice-President of Greater Rouen-Normandy Area
- From 1995 to 2001 Chairman of the District and Community Environment Committee
- From 1994 to 1999 Departmental Councillor
- From 1995 to 2000, Chairman of the Greater Rouen Sanitation Syndicate
- 1999-2004 Member of the European Parliament; Member of the Legal Affairs Committee; and Member of the Industry, Trade, Research and Energy Committee
- 2001-2008: President of the Rouen Urban District Community; First Deputy to the Mayor of Petit-Quevilly
- Since 2008 France's Ambassador-at-large for human rights, and Ambassador for Holocaust issues
External links
- http://www.medbridge.org/
- http://www.ecomaires.com/
- http://www.jeantet.fr/
- http://www.sosdarfur.eu/
- http://www.cercle-leon-blum.org/
- http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/actions-france_830/droits-homme_1048/biographie-m.-francois-zimeray-ambassadeur-pour-les-droits-homme_60854.html