Paris, 20th March the International Francophony Day is celebrated throughout the world on the 20th of March every year, in the 77 member countries of the International Francophony Organisation. The date commemorates the Niamey Convention that created the organisation of francophone nations, signed on the 20th of March.
The French language is, together with English, the official language of the European Olympic Committees.
A language of learning and communication, it is also a vehicle for economic development and exchange for over 220 million French speakers around the world.
As is the case every year, celebrations took place in all the member states, with 2013 being dedicated to francophone women, with the support of France, UNESCO and UN Women.
The first World Francophone Women’s Forum took place yesterday in Paris at the Musée du Quai Branly, the famed primitive arts museum, and was attended by 400 delegates from civil society and the member states of the International Francophony Organisation. The organisation’s secretary general, Abdou Diouf, was at the opening ceremony, together with Yamina Benguigui, the Minister Delegate for Francophony attached to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova.
The Hexagon aside, the French diplomatic, cultural and educational network also mobilized itself to show the multiplicity of Francophone countries, the dynamism of their cultural creativity, and to promote francophone values, including respect for the rule of law and human rights, gender equality, solidarity and cultural diversity.
In the field of sport, there are Francophone Games every four years, in the year that follows the Olympic Games. The first took place in the Principality of Monaco, in 1989, and the 7th edition will take place in Nice, France, next 6th 15th September.