Launch of the week of the French language and la Francophonie
Bern, 10.03.2016 - During the month of March, Switzerland and other countries throughout the world are celebrating La Fête de la Francophonie to commemorate the signing of the treaty instituting the 'Agence de coopération culturelle et technique (ACCT)' in Niger in 1970, which is considered to be the founding act of la Francophonie. In Switzerland around one hundred events are being held in 12 different cantons. In addition, a group of French-speaking ambassadors accredited in Bern will be created with Switzerland as chair.
The 21st week of the French language and La Francophonie (SLFF) was officially launched on Thursday evening under the auspices of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Intercantonal Conference of Public Education of French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino (CIIP). The inaugural evening took place in Schloss Köniz, Bern, in the presence of Raphaël Comte, president of the Council of States and Monika Maire-Hefti, president of the Cantonal Council of the Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel and president of CIIP.
During this evening, the singer Stress and the 'Festival du Film Français d’Helvétie' in Biel/Bienne were awarded a prize in recognition of their dedication to La Francophonie in Switzerland by the group of French-speaking ambassadors accredited to the Swiss Confederation. Chaired by the FDFA, this recently constituted group of French-speaking ambassadors will award a prize each year to institutions or individuals who make an outstanding contribution to La Francophonie in Switzerland and act as bridge-builders between the different linguistic communities in Switzerland. The week of the French language and La Francophonie, which is celebrated on the same dates throughout the world, will be celebrated in Switzerland with roughly one hundred events in more than 15 cities. Mixing cultural activities, festivities and conviviality, the week will feature meetings between French-speakers and francophiles in Basel, Zurich and Lucerne. Lectures and debates, literary cafés, film evenings, concerts, conferences on a very wide range of topics, as well as theatre performances, games and even gastronomic events will be organised for this occasion.
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