La Francophonie

La Francophonie (occasionally in English Francophony, formally l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie), a French language term coined in 1880 by French geographer Onésime Reclus to designate the community of people and countries using French, is an international organisation of French-speaking countries and governments. 49 states and governments are members of the organisation, four others (Albania, Andorra, Greece, Republic of Macedonia) are associate members, and ten additional states (Armenia, Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia) are invited observers of its Summits. French is at least a minor language in all its member states, and is in fact the sole major language of only a few.

Related Topics:
English - French language - Onésime Reclus - Albania - Andorra - Greece - Republic of Macedonia - Armenia - Austria - Croatia - Georgia - Hungary - Lithuania - Poland - Czech Republic - Slovakia - Slovenia

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Several of the member states have a poor record when it comes to the protection of human rights and the practice of democracy. A proposed measure to sanction such countries was debated at least twice, but was not approved.

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

Related Topics:
1970 - Motto - France - Motto

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Today, the Francophonie is an important forum for discussions of world-wide cultural and linguistic diversity. Together with other international organisations such as the UNESCO, the Francophonie is concerned with the evolution of linguistic and cultural diversity in an era of the globalisation of trade. It is working closely with some other equivalent organisations in the Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking world (see the Latin Union and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries).

Related Topics:
UNESCO - Latin Union - Community of Portuguese Language Countries

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