In The News

Tireless campaigner for human rights Danielle Mitterrand passes away

Tireless campaigner for human rights Danielle Mitterrand passes away

DANIELLE Mitterrand, who was the widow of former French President Francois Mitterrand and was a tireless campaigner for human rights, has died. She was 87.

Mrs. Mitterrand had joined the French Resistance in 1940 when she was only 17.

It was during this time that she was to meet her future husband, a fellow Resistance member, while he was on-the-run from the Gastapo.

Francois Mitterrand, who headed the Socialist Party, became one of the longest serving Presidents of France when he he served two terms in office between 1981 and 1995. He died in 1996.

Mrs. Mitterrand was always regarded as an outspoken first lady and would often promote the humanitarian causes close to her heart — including Tibetan freedom and bringing an end to apartheid, while her husband was in office.

Her foundation, France Libertes, which she set up in 1986, campaigns for social justice internationally.

Mrs. Mitterrand was a tireless and fearless campaigner. 

She included the Dalai Lama and Fidel Castro among her many friends.

Tributes were led by French President Nicolas Sarkosy who said: “Danielle Mitterrand was an exemplary woman who pursued the causes she considered just, with all her strength, until the end”.

 

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