France's new FM promises to protect human rights worldwide
The new French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot has promised to support efforts to protect human rights around the world. He took over from his predecessor, Stéphane Séjourné on Monday.
"This ministry will be fully mobilised whenever fundamental freedoms, human rights and minority rights are in danger," the 41-year-old centrist said during the handover ceremony in Paris.
He promised to "defend international law."
"The prosperity of France and Europe cannot be built in isolation from the rest of the world," he said, before flying to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The new head of French diplomacy also promised support to Iranian and Afghan women.
"I say this to Iranian women, and I say this to girls in Afghanistan: I have heard your distress call. You are not alone, we will stand by your side."
They are "not alone", he said.
Afghan athlete under police protection in France after denouncing Taliban
Democracy under attack
Barrot listed four "challenges" he believes the world is facing: peace, climate, democracy and prosperity.
"We are living in a time of geopolitical crises of exceptional gravity. Never has the international order been subjected to such violent winds that want to tear it down, to replace it with an international order based on force," he said.
He mentioned Ukraine, the Middle East, Haiti, the Great Lakes region, the South China Sea, where he said his ministry would "defend international law with all its might in the service of a just peace."
(with newswires)
Read more on RFI English
Read also:
Incoming French government under pressure on multiple fronts
Prime Minister Barnier warns France faces severe budget crisis as government talks stall
Impeachment proceedings against France's Macron pass first hurdle
