BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//sebbo.net//ical-generator//EN NAME:DC Public Library X-WR-CALNAME:DC Public Library BEGIN:VEVENT UID:a043cd75-fe0d-4078-8518-4f0125ed72ed SEQUENCE:0 DTSTAMP:20260716T094202Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T200000 SUMMARY:Democracy Series #4 - Transmitting Democracy LOCATION:Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library\nCleveland Park Neighborhood Library X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Cleveland Park Neighborhoo d Library;X-APPLE-RADIUS=10;X-TITLE=Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library:ge o:38.9338614,-77.0579754 GEO:38.9338614;-77.0579754 DESCRIPTION:Join us for a panel and the U.S. premiere of the documentary f ilm "Les combats méconnus de Robert Badinter" in partnership with Villa Albertine\, the French Institute for Culture and Education..\nhttps://dcl ibrary.libnet.info/event/14754864 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

For reasonable accommodations\, please contact the Center for Accessibility at 202-727-2142 or DCPLaccess@dc.gov . For ASL or tactile interpretation\, please allow at least seven (7) days notice.

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On November 5\, join Villa Albertine\, the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation and the DC Public Library for an exploration of equality and justice through the legacy of the late French Minister of Justice Robert Badinter\, as part of our \;Democracy in an Age of Unce rtainty \;series.

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The evening features the \;exceptional p resence as keynote speaker of Christophe Soulard\, First President of the French Cour de Cassation followed by a \;panel discussion \;with&n bsp\;Jean-Michel Arrighi\, Secretary for Legal Affairs at the Organization of American States\, \;Fré\;dé\;ric Mé\;gret\, Prof essor of Law at McGill University and \;Alex T. Johnson\, Director of the Global Futures Collaborative at Howard University.

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In the seco nd part of the evening\, in partnership with Movie Nights by French in Mot ion\, we will present the \;U.S. premiere of the documentary \;Les combats mé\;connus de Robert Badinter\, originally screened in Fran ce for Badinter&rsquo\;s induction into the Panthé\;on. The screenin g will be followed by an insightful discussion with co-director \;Beth sabé\;e Zarka\, who will shed light on Badinter&rsquo\;s lifelong fi ght for justice.

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The program is free and open to all. \;

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Program

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6:00pm | Panel Discussion
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The pantheonizati on of Robert Badinter offers a moment to reflect on what it means to trans mit democracy in an age marked by uncertainty and new challenges. A tirele ss advocate for justice and fundamental rights\, his legacy extends far be yond 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\, j udicial independence\, and the equal dignity of all citizens. This panel b uilds on that legacy\, bringing together leading voices in law and civil s ociety from both sides of the Atlantic to explore how Badinter&rsquo\;s li felong commitment to justice resonates today and for future generations.\n

7:00pm | Screening of "Les combats mé\;connus de Robert Badi nter" (The Unknown Battles of Robert Badinter) and Q&\;A
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Docum entary by Dominique Missika and Bethsabé\;e Zarka

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Les combats mé\;connus de Robert Badinter movie posterOn the occasion of Robert Badinter&rsquo\;s pantheonization\, the film The Unknown Battles of Robert Badinter sheds light on the less familiar as pects of a life dedicated to justice and human dignity. Beyond his histori c role in the abolition of the death penalty\, the documentary highlights his many other struggles: defending judicial independence\, advancing a de mocratic and rights-based Europe\, and safeguarding civil liberties agains t authoritarian temptations. By combining the voices of historians\, juris ts\, and witnesses\, the film offers a vivid account of the depth of Badin ter&rsquo\;s legacy and its urgent resonance for current and future genera tions.

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We are honored to welcome co-director Bethsabé\;e Zar ka for a discussion following the screening.

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The film is produ ced by Nova Production and LCP-AN\, with cinematography by Joseph Haley\, Caroline le Hello\, and Pierre Duyckaerts\; editing by Bruno Maruani\; res earch by É\;lise Lellouche\; graphics by Maud Drouin\; and an origin al score by Alexandre Zapata. Broadcast by LCP-AN and Toute l&rsquo\;Histo ire with the participation of the CNC. This screening is made possible wit h the support of French in Motion\, a nonprofit organization fostering col laborations in the audiovisual industry.

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About the Speaker

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Christophe Soulard is the First President of the Cour de Cassati on (French Supreme Court)\, France&rsquo\;s highest judicial authority\, s ince July 2022. As the country&rsquo\;s top-ranking magistrate\, he also s erves as President of the High Council for the Judiciary (Conseil sup&eacu te\;rieur de la magistrature) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of th e National School for the Judiciary (É\;cole nationale de la magistr ature). A specialist in criminal and European law\, he has devoted his car eer to upholding the rule of law\, judicial independence\, and access to j ustice.

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After serving at the Court of Justice of the European Unio n\, he held senior positions in Metz and at the Supreme Court\, including President of its Criminal Chamber (2017&ndash\;2022). An accomplished acad emic\, he has taught EU and procedural law at Sciences Po\, Strasbourg\, a nd the University of Lorraine.

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He has also sat on national commiss ions on financial markets\, customs\, and tax law\, and since 2025 preside s over the Robert Badinter Institute\, honoring the legacy of the former M inister of Justice. Deeply engaged in international judicial cooperation\, he promotes dialogue between national and European courts\, as well as ci vic education through law and the protection of fundamental freedoms and h uman dignity

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About the Panelists

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Jean Michel Arrighi was born in Montevideo\, Uruguay\, in 1953. He is an Attorney and Doctor of Laws and Social Sciences from the Universi dad de la Repú\;blica (Uruguay) and has served as Professor of Publi c International Law at the Universidad de la Repú\;blica and the Uni versidad Cató\;lica. A member of the Institut de Droit International \, he has lectured widely across the Americas and Europe\, including at th e OAS Course on International Law\, Université\; 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 Secr etary for Legal Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS)\, aft er holding key positions within the OAS since 1993.

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Alex T . Johnson is Director and Co-Founder of the Global Futures Collab orative\, a global engagement practitioner resource center powered by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University. He form er served as Deputy Director for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Open Society F oundations. A former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and Sp ecial Advisor at the Department of Defense\, he is a leading expert on hum an rights\, inclusive diplomacy\, and transatlantic security. His career h as focused on advancing diversity in U.S. foreign policy and strengthening democratic institutions worldwide.

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Fré\;dé\;r ic Mé\;gret is a Professor of Law and holds the Hans &\; Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law. He previously served as a William Dawson Scholar from 2015 to 2023 and held the Canada Researc h Chair in the Law of Human Rights and Legal Pluralism from 2006 to 2015. In 2024&ndash\;2025\, Professor Mé\;gret was the James S. Carpentier Visiting Professor at Columbia Law School. He holds a PhD from the Univer sity of Paris I (Panthé\;on-Sorbonne) and is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris.

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Bethsabé\;e Zark a \;earned a Master&rsquo\;s in Journalism and Literature fro m New York University before beginning her career at AFP in Jerusalem duri ng Israel&rsquo\;s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. Back in France\, she dire cted several documentaries\, including \;John Lennon\, une vie inachev é\;e\, \;Alain Bashung\, dernier rappel\, and \;Jacques Mart in\, Les coulisses d&rsquo\;un empire \;for \;Un Jour\, Un Destin\ , as well as reports for \;Envoyé\; Spé\;cial \;(Franc e 2)\, \;Arte Reportage\, Canal+\, France 24\, and M6. Her film \; Israel: Under Pressure from the Ultra-Orthodox \;was selected at FIGRA in 2016\, followed in 2025 by \;Hasidic Jews in New York. She has jus t completed \;Les anné\;es collè\;ge\, a four-year project in a middle school in Picardy inspired by Frederick Wiseman&rsquo\;s cin& eacute\;ma vé\;rité\; style.

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 \;About the Partner Organizations

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The Judy and Pete r Blum Kovler Foundation&rsquo\;s work has included underwriting of such public spaces as Washington&rsquo\;s Franklin D. Roosevelt Memoria l\, the National Museum of African American History and Culture\, and the Holocaust Museum\; in New York\, the new Statue of Liberty Museum\; and in Chicago\, as early supporters of the Obama Presidential Center. In connec tion to French culture and history\, it has underwritten efforts at Notre Dame restoration\, the Louvre Endowment\, and to Holocaust studies includi ng the 1988 Academy Award winning documentary\, Hotel Terminus\, the Life and Times of Klaus Barbie.

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This event is organized as part of Movi e Nights by French in Motion.

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Created in 2016\, F RENCH IN MOTION is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization\, with chap ters in Los Angeles\, New York\, and Washington DC. We bring together a gr owing community of nearly 400 film and TV talent and professionals from bo th sides of the Atlantic. Led by an executive board of seasoned industry e xecutives and producers\, French In Motion champions award-winning interna tional co-productions in film and TV\, including an Oscar-nominated featur e.

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Movie Nights by French In Motion \;is an exciting initiative launched in Washington DC in 2024. The program celebrates the creativity and diversity of our local French In Mo tion community of filmmakers\, while also showcasing select French works f rom France and occasional international titles. Through monthly screenings hosted in various venues across Washington DC\, Movie Nights creates a sp ace for discovery\, dialogue\, and cross-cultural exchange.

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About the Series

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Democracy in an Age of Uncertainty\, a series from Villa Albertine exploring challenges to liberal democracies in France\, t he United States\, and around the world\, launched at the Martin Luther Ki ng Jr. Memorial Library in September 2024. The series continued with three events \, including our latest installment at Philadelphia&rsquo\;s Natio nal Constitution Center in May 2025. The series is made possible thanks to the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation.

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