This weekend, the human rights association, Amnesty International France, is bringing together nearly 1,000 activists at the Pierre-Baudis conference center in Toulouse for its general assembly. The event will be marked by the election of a new board of directors and a new presidency. Before leaving office or being re-elected, the outgoing president of the association, Anne Savinel-Barras, discusses the importance of the notion of the rule of law, the challenges facing human rights, in France and internationally, and calls for a mobilization of civil society.
Why did you choose Toulouse to host this general meeting?
Anne Savinel-Barras :Â It is the local group from Toulouse which applied to host our general assembly this year. It’s a very dynamic and very active group. Every year, we change cities when local structures wish to organize this event. It is with pleasure that we go to this beautiful city.
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You mention the need to “enter into resistance”. Resist what?
This is what we denounced, notably at the end of April, when we published our annual report “The situation of human rights in the world”. We surveyed 144 countries. Today we see a real global human rights crisis. We are losing what we have acquired over 80 years, after what was put in place following the Second World War. What we call “resisting” is preventing measures and practices that set back our freedoms and our rights, remaining vigilant in the face of practices that weaken the rule of law.
Are you talking about a decline in human rights in France?
Yes. We note in particular attacks on the right of expression, the right of peaceful assembly and association. When we attack the rights of the weakest among us, we affect the rights of everyone.
Have you had any feedback or echoes of what is happening in terms of legal issues in Toulouse and the region?
We feel that it is still difficult to speak of solidarity towards the Palestinian people in Toulouse. I take for example the fact that we tried to contact the mayor of Toulouse, without response, but I am happy that the mayor asked an assistant to be present. I hope that she will indeed be there. tomorrow morning.
The rule of law, a central theme of your general assembly.
Yes, indeed, because the rule of law guarantees equality between all citizens and allows the exercise of fundamental civil freedoms. When its functioning is called into question, it is everyone’s rights that are weakened. France has obligations on this subject. It is a major issue today, in France therefore, as in many other countries.
A walk telling the fictional story of a migrant who left Bangladesh is being organized on Saturday to mark World Refugee Day. What is its objective?
It is above all an action to raise awareness and express our dissatisfaction with the non-respect of the rights of some of us. We want to alert public opinion and say: “Be careful, today it is these people whose rights are being taken away, and tomorrow it may be you”.
You also believe that the debate on immigration is being exploited…
Yes. When things are not going well in a country, when the economic situation is bad, I think that foreign people are often designated as responsible for difficulties beyond their control. Today, they are totally stigmatized. These people are not here because our sun shines better than elsewhere, but because they have no choice, because they are discriminated against, threatened, because there is an armed conflict. They are fleeing for their safety and for a dignified life for their families.
You may be leaving the presidency of Amnesty International France. How do you view your mandate?
I knew it would be a difficult mandate. The world situation has changed. We have had to face numerous crises and address complex issues. Despite this, I especially remember the mobilization of our activists and the collective work accomplished.
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What will be the main challenge for your successor?
To continue on this path of cohesion, we must be solid within the association, and be able to be combative outside. Continue to defend human rights wherever they are threatened, prevent the decline of freedoms and succeed in bringing to life a discourse that brings hope.
What can a Toulouse resident do who wants to take action and come along for the ride?
I would tell him that it’s his neighbor we’re talking about. It’s not abstract. We can act on our own scale, in daily life. The whole point is to try to say no, to succeed in making this choice to say no. Resisting also means refusing discrimination when you witness it, supporting the most vulnerable people and getting involved, in an association or otherwise. There is no small mobilization.
