Jean-Christophe Rufin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Christophe Rufin is a French
doctor and novelist. He is the president of Action Against Hunger
and one of the founders of Médecins Sans Frontières
. He was Ambassador of France
in Senegal
from 2007 to June 2010.
, Cher in 1952. An only child, he was raised by his grandparents, because his father had left the family and his mother worked in Paris
. His grandfather, a doctor and member of the French Resistance
during World War II
, had been imprisoned for two years at Buchenwald.
In 1977, after medical school, Rufin went to Tunisia
as a volunteer doctor. He led his first humanitarian mission in Eritrea
, where he met Azeb, who became his second wife.
(Sciences-Po), in 1986 he became advisor to the Secretary of State for Human Rights and published his first book, Le Piège humanitaire (The Humanitarian Trap), an essay on the political stakes of humanitarian action.
As a doctor, he is one of the pioneers of humanitarian movement "without borders," for which he has led numerous missions in eastern Africa
and Latin America
. A former vice-president of Médecins Sans Frontières
and former president of the non-governmental organization
Action Against Hunger
.
to write an in-depth report on the upsurge of anti-Semitism
in France. He presented the final report on October 19, 2004.
The "Rufin report" (as it later became known), as described by the US State Department, concluded the following:
The report, as described by the US State Department, recommended the following actions:
The report was criticised by Michel Tubiana of the Ligue des droits de l'homme, who accused Rufin of "acting like an arsonist fireman." Tubiana said that the focus on anti-Semitism created an "imbalance" in the approach to fighting all racism, and that if the recommendation became law, the umbrella group of the International Federation for Human Rights would be punished because it viewed Israel's treatment of Israeli Arabs as "discriminatory".http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1224352.htm
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
doctor and novelist. He is the president of Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization with a focus on ending world hunger. Action Against Hunger specializes in responding to emergency situations of war, conflict, and natural disaster...
and one of the founders of Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières
' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
. He was Ambassador of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
from 2007 to June 2010.
Early life
Rufin was born in BourgesBourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
, Cher in 1952. An only child, he was raised by his grandparents, because his father had left the family and his mother worked in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. His grandfather, a doctor and member of the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, had been imprisoned for two years at Buchenwald.
In 1977, after medical school, Rufin went to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
as a volunteer doctor. He led his first humanitarian mission in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, where he met Azeb, who became his second wife.
Human rights activism
A graduate of the Institut d'études politiques de ParisInstitut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
(Sciences-Po), in 1986 he became advisor to the Secretary of State for Human Rights and published his first book, Le Piège humanitaire (The Humanitarian Trap), an essay on the political stakes of humanitarian action.
As a doctor, he is one of the pioneers of humanitarian movement "without borders," for which he has led numerous missions in eastern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. A former vice-president of Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières
' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
and former president of the non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization with a focus on ending world hunger. Action Against Hunger specializes in responding to emergency situations of war, conflict, and natural disaster...
.
Report on racism and anti-Semitism
In 2003, Rufin was commissioned by French Interior Minister Dominique de VillepinDominique de Villepin
Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
to write an in-depth report on the upsurge of anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
in France. He presented the final report on October 19, 2004.
The "Rufin report" (as it later became known), as described by the US State Department, concluded the following:
- RacismRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and anti-SemitismAnti-SemitismAntisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
were a threat to French democracy. - Anti-semitic acts are not only carried out by elements of the extreme right and youths of North African descent, but also by "disaffected individuals" whose anti-Semitic obsessions prompt their attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions.
- Radical anti-Zionists who question Israel's right to existRight to existThe right to exist is said to be an attribute of nations. According to an essay by the nineteenth century French philosopher Ernest Renan, a state has the right to exist when individuals are willing to sacrifice their own interests for the community it represents. Unlike self-determination, the...
were dangerous.
The report, as described by the US State Department, recommended the following actions:
- That a law be created to punish those publicly equating Israel with apartheid or Nazi GermanyNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. - That the French press law of 1881Law on the Freedom of the Press of 29 July 1881The Law on the Freedom of the Press of 29 July 1881 , often called the Press Law of 1881, is a law that defines the freedoms and responsibilities of the media and publishers in France. It provides a legal framework for publications and regulates the display of advertisements on public roads...
, designed to guarantee freedom of the press, is too unwieldy to adequately address the issues of racism. - That intolerance be countered in primary schools and by the education of new immigrants about the fight against racism and anti-Semitism.
- That an observation system to monitor racist and anti-Semitic websites be created and that it work closely with authorities to prosecute offenders.
The report was criticised by Michel Tubiana of the Ligue des droits de l'homme, who accused Rufin of "acting like an arsonist fireman." Tubiana said that the focus on anti-Semitism created an "imbalance" in the approach to fighting all racism, and that if the recommendation became law, the umbrella group of the International Federation for Human Rights would be punished because it viewed Israel's treatment of Israeli Arabs as "discriminatory".http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1224352.htm
Essays
- L'aventure humanitaire ("The Humanitarian Adventure") (1994)
- La dictature libérale ("The Liberal Dictatorship") (1994)
- L'empire et les nouveaux barbares ("The Empire and the New Barbarians") (1991)
- Le piège humanitaire : quand l'humanitaire remplace la guerre ("The Humane Trap: when humanitarianism replaces war") (1986)
Novels
- Katiba (2010)
- Le Parfum d'Adam (2007)
- Globalia (2004)
- Brazil Red (Rouge Brésil; 2001) - winner of prix GoncourtPrix GoncourtThe Prix Goncourt is a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year"...
2001 - Lost CausesLost CausesLost Causes is an album by hardcore punk band 20 Bulls Each, released in 2006 on Fail Records-Track listing:#Bow Down#Fail#AWOL#ICON#Sell Sell Sell#The Hard Way#Patron Saint#Easter Star#Resolve#Make Your Stand#Walk Away#Souls Inc.#Plastic...
/ "Asmara et les causes perdues" (1999) - winner of prix InteralliéPrix InteralliéThe prix Interallié , also known simply as l’Interallié, is an annual French literary award, awarded for a novel written by a journalist.- History :...
1999 - The Siege of Isfahan (1998)
- The AbyssinianThe Abyssinian-Plot introduction:The Abyssinian tells the story of a young French physician who is sent as part of a diplomatic mission to Abyssinia...
(1997) - winner of Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman 1997 and Prix MéditerranéePrix MéditerranéeThe Prix Méditerranée is a French literary award. It was created in 1984 in Perpignan by the Mediterranean Centre of Literature in order to promote cultural interaction among the numerous countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea...
1997
Non-Fiction Books
- Économie des guerres civiles ("Economics of Civil Wars"), with Jean FrançoisJean FrançoisJean-François Papillon was an African-born slave that had worked in the plantation of Papillon in the last decades of the 18th Century, in the North Province of Saint-Domingue...
(1996) ISBN 2-01-278788-6 - Mondes rebelles ("World Rebels"), with Arnaud de La Grange and Jean-Marc Balancie. (1996) ISBN 2-84186-142-2
External links
- Jean-Christophe Rufin: Writing without borders, Profile in Paris Voice, accessed June 26, 2006.
- Books and reviews: "Économie des guerres civiles", François Grunewald, International Review of the Red CrossInternational Review of the Red CrossThe International Review of the Red Cross is a quarterly academic journal published by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Cambridge University Press. The journal aims to serve as a forum for debate, reflection and critical analysis on international humanitarian law, humanitarian...
, December 31, 1997, accessed June 26, 2006.