{"id":5591724,"date":"2025-10-17T15:52:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/villa-albertine.org\/va\/?post_type=app_event&p=5591724"},"modified":"2025-11-07T21:16:41","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T21:16:41","slug":"transmitting-democracy-legacies-and-new-struggles","status":"publish","type":"app_event","link":"https:\/\/villa-albertine.org\/va\/events\/transmitting-democracy-legacies-and-new-struggles\/","title":{"rendered":"Transmitting Democracy: Legacies and New Struggles\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The evening features the exceptional presence as keynote speaker of Christophe Soulard<\/strong>, First President of the French Cour de Cassation followed by a panel discussion<\/strong> with Jean-Michel Arrighi<\/strong>, Secretary for Legal Affairs at the Organization of American States, Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric M\u00e9gret<\/strong>, Professor of Law at McGill University and Alex T. Johnson<\/strong>, Director of the Global Futures Collaborative at Howard University.

In the second part of the evening, in partnership with Movie Nights by French in Motion, we will present the U.S. premiere of the documentary <\/strong>Les combats m\u00e9connus de Robert Badinter<\/strong><\/em>, originally screened in France for Badinter\u2019s induction into the Panth\u00e9on. The screening will be followed by an insightful discussion with co-director Bethsab\u00e9e Zarka<\/strong>, who will shed light on Badinter\u2019s lifelong fight for justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is free and open to all. Register <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about the panelists and full lineup below.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democracy in an Age of Uncertainty<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> a series from Villa Albertine exploring challenges to liberal democracies in France, the United States, and around the world, launched at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in September 2024. The series continued with three events , including our latest installment at Philadelphia\u2019s National Constitution Center in May 2025.\u202fThe series is made possible thanks to the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program\u202f<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

6:30 PM \u2013 7:30 PM<\/strong> | Panel<\/strong> Discussion<\/strong> – Transmitting Democracy: Legacies and New Struggles<\/strong>
Location: Cleveland Park Library Auditorium (3310 Connecticut Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20008)
This event is in English. <\/em>\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening remarks by Meaghan O’Connor, DC Public Library’s Director of Adult Services and Caroline Monvoisin, Consul General of France in Washington DC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pantheonization of Robert Badinter offers a moment to reflect on what it means to transmit democracy in an age marked by uncertainty and new challenges. A tireless advocate for justice and fundamental rights, his legacy extends far beyond the abolition of the death penalty. It continues to inspire those who, in France and the United States, work to safeguard the rule of law, judicial independence, and the equal dignity of all citizens. This panel builds on that legacy, bringing together leading voices in law and civil society from both sides of the Atlantic to explore how Badinter\u2019s lifelong commitment to justice resonates today and for future generations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:30 PM \u2013 8:30 PM | Screening of \u201cLes combats m\u00e9connus de Robert Badinter\u201d (<\/strong>The Unknown Battles of Robert Badinter) and Q&A <\/strong> 
Documentary by Dominique Missika and Bethsab\u00e9e Zarka <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of Robert Badinter\u2019s pantheonization, the film The Unknown Battles of Robert Badinter sheds light on the less familiar aspects of a life dedicated to justice and human dignity. Beyond his historic role in the abolition of the death penalty, the documentary highlights his many other struggles: defending judicial independence, advancing a democratic and rights-based Europe, and safeguarding civil liberties against authoritarian temptations. By combining the voices of historians, jurists, and witnesses, the film offers a vivid account of the depth of Badinter\u2019s legacy and its urgent resonance for current and future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are honored to welcome co-director Bethsab\u00e9e Zarka<\/strong> for a discussion following the screening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The film is produced by Nova Production and LCP-AN, with cinematography by Joseph Haley, Caroline le Hello, and Pierre Duyckaerts; editing by Bruno Maruani; research by \u00c9lise Lellouche; graphics by Maud Drouin; and an original score by Alexandre Zapata. Broadcast by LCP-AN and Toute l\u2019Histoire with the participation of the CNC. This screening is made possible with the support of French in Motion<\/strong>, a nonprofit organization fostering collaborations in the audiovisual industry. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaker<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christophe Soulard \u2013 France<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christophe Soulard is the First President of the Cour de Cassation (French Supreme Court), France\u2019s highest judicial authority, since July 2022. As the country\u2019s top-ranking magistrate, he also serves as President of the High Council for the Judiciary (Conseil sup\u00e9rieur de la magistrature) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National School for the Judiciary (\u00c9cole nationale de la magistrature). A specialist in criminal and European law, he has devoted his career to upholding the rule of law, judicial independence, and access to justice.
After serving at the Court of Justice of the European Union, he held senior positions in Metz and at the Supreme Court, including President of its Criminal Chamber (2017\u20132022). An accomplished academic, he has taught EU and procedural law at Sciences Po, Strasbourg, and the University of Lorraine.
He has also sat on national commissions on financial markets, customs, and tax law, and since 2025 presides over the Robert Badinter Institute, honoring the legacy of the former Minister of Justice. Deeply engaged in international judicial cooperation, he promotes dialogue between national and European courts, as well as civic education through law and the protection of fundamental freedoms and human dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moderator of the panel: Bethsab\u00e9e Zarka<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panelists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean Michel Arrighi \u2013 France\/Uruguay <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean Michel Arrighi was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1953. He is an Attorney and Doctor of Laws and Social Sciences from the Universidad de la Rep\u00fablica (Uruguay) and has served as Professor of Public International Law at the Universidad de la Rep\u00fablica and the Universidad Cat\u00f3lica. A member of the Institut de Droit International, he has lectured widely across the Americas and Europe, including at the OAS Course on International Law, Universit\u00e9 Paris II, and the Hague Academy of International Law. Author of numerous books and articles on international and inter-American law, he has served since 2007 as Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS), after holding key positions within the OAS since 1993. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex T. Johnson \u2013 United States<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex T. Johnson is Director and Co-Founder of the Global Futures Collaborative, a global engagement practitioner resource center powered by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University. He former served as Deputy Director for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Open Society Foundations. A former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and Special Advisor at the Department of Defense, he is a leading expert on human rights, inclusive diplomacy, and transatlantic security. His career has focused on advancing diversity in U.S. foreign policy and strengthening democratic institutions worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric M\u00e9gret \u2013 France<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric M\u00e9gret is a Professor of Law and holds the Hans & Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law at the Faculty of Law, McGill University. He previously served as a William Dawson Scholar from 2015 to 2023 and held the Canada Research Chair in the Law of Human Rights and Legal Pluralism from 2006 to 2015. In 2024\u20132025, Professor M\u00e9gret was the James S. Carpentier Visiting Professor at Columbia Law School. He holds a PhD from the University of Paris I (Panth\u00e9on-Sorbonne) and is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bethsab\u00e9e Zarka \u2013 France<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bethsab\u00e9e Zarka began her career with AFP in Jerusalem, covering the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. She has since directed numerous documentaries and reports for France 2, Arte, and Canal+. Her films include Israel: Under Pressure from the Ultra-Orthodox<\/em> (FIGRA 2016), Hasidic Jews in New York<\/em> (2025), and The Middle School Years<\/em>. Her most recent work, co-directed with Dominique Missika, Les combats m\u00e9connus de Robert Badinter<\/em>, explores Badinter\u2019s enduring legacy for democracy and justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official Speeches<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Meaghan O\u2019Connor \u2013 United States<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meaghan O\u2019Connor is the Director of Adult Services at the DC Public Library, where she leads civic and educational programs that foster public participation and access to knowledge. A specialist in cultural engagement and public literacy, she helps make Washington\u2019s libraries vital spaces for democratic dialogue, inclusion, and intercultural exchange. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caroline Monvoisin \u2013 France<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caroline Monvoisin is the Consul General of France in Washington, D.C. A career diplomat, she works to strengthen Franco-American relations across political, cultural, and educational fields. Deeply committed to youth engagement, Francophonie, and civil society, she promotes France\u2019s cultural diplomacy within the broader context of America\u2019s 250th anniversary and ongoing transatlantic dialogue on democratic values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is free and open to all. Register <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look Back at the Event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Couldn’t make it to the event? Check out a few highlights below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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