Hello everybody.
I’m delighted to be with you all today for our traditional New Year’s greetings and galettes!
It’s important to take a few minutes to take a look at the year ahead. And what could be nicer than getting together afterwards for festive drinks and some delicious galettes?
As 2024 begins, I’d like to start by sincerely wishing you and your loved ones a year full of happiness and solidarity. And let’s hope it is a calmer year for the whole world.
Given the current context, where hatred of others and increasing isolation is widespread, my wish for this New Year is that our organisation, Médecins du Monde, will be more united and mobilised than ever. Our single, unwavering objective is to continue our fight for health and social justice for all. At home and abroad.
Of course, it’s impossible to start this new year without mentioning the one that has just ended.
2023 was a very tough, gruelling year. For peace, for health and for people. It confirmed that not everyone is in a position to receive the treatment they need.
Unfortunately, international humanitarian law has remained powerless in the face of the deadly onslaughts led by armed groups and states. And although they are harmless and not involved in these conflicts, the civil population, health workers and humanitarian actors were, as always, the first victims.
The inhuman ordeal which the civilian populations of the Middle East have now endured for over 100 days marks a new tipping point for humanity. This tragic situation will leave a lasting mark on our collective memory as humanitarians.
This terrible context took the life of one of our colleagues and friends in Gaza. Maysara was killed with his family when his building was bombed by the Israeli army last November. I would like to pay him once more a heartfelt tribute.
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute once again to the courage and unfailing commitment of our various teams, who are working under difficult conditions. In Palestine, Afghanistan and Nigeria, from which I have just returned, and many other places.
Our top priority will remain the safety of our teams and the protection of civilian populations. Our fight to defend international law and the humanitarian space will therefore continue stronger than ever in 2024, both internationally and in France.
Another certainty is that 2024 will be full of challenges for Médecins du Monde.
As I often say, the way we organise ourselves and adapt to new situations enables us to increase our influence and become an ever more supportive and responsible organisation. It also enables us to protect ourselves, because we want to be able to continue to act in the face of great adversity for a long time to come.
Among the structural developments which are specific to our organisation, it’s impossible not to mention our 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, now known as “PS2”. This was launched at the very start of the year and was covered in today’s Friday News.
This clear and focussed roadmap incorporates the many issues that will enable us to realise our vision for the future and implement our Mission Statement.
2024 will also be the year that we take a huge step forward in terms of ERP and GDMS. This will require a great deal of effort and ability, but it is essential. More than ever, we need these tools to support our work.
Whether you’re a volunteer or a salaried employee, we all have a difficult job to do. As such, psychosocial risks will remain an ongoing concern for the Board and General Directorate. We should all be aware of psychosocial risks. As in organisation, we should remain constantly vigilant.
Many other strategic and organisational issues will also be addressed – or implemented – in 2024. Now is not the time to go into detail about them all. There is one issue that we haven’t yet scheduled, but that is absolutely essential and that is the economic model for our missions in France.
Returning to the state of our world: ill winds have already begun to blow across our planet this year.
We are all direct witnesses to the conditions facing vulnerable people under threat, from the welcome extended to people in exile, to those suffering as a result of the environmental crisis, and those affected by serious violations of international humanitarian law.
At the same time, humanitarian action, as we understand it at Médecins du Monde, is continually being put to the test. We have to constantly adjust and adapt. All the while remaining true to our values, preserving our independence and putting the rights of those affected at the very heart of our work.
These constraints will never prevent us from fulfilling our role as a militant medical organisation promoting international solidarity. As always, in 2024 our many programmes will be vital for the millions of people who are counting on us more than ever to ensure access to rights and to healthcare.
The immigration law which was adopted in France at the end of 2023 represents a historic turning point for our country
Is at odds with its republican principles of equality, fraternity and solidarity. This will have serious consequences for the health of foreign nationals, but also for the population as a whole. Civil society continues to protest against it, and our hopes are now pinned on the decision of the Constitutional Council.
At a time when national bias seems to be winning out over everything else, our political battle as a health and solidarity organisation is shaping up to be a tough one. But Médecins du Monde is ready to take on this battle, and will strongly support inter-NGO mobilisation.
Like so many others, we will continue to stand as a shield, to ensure that hatred and rejection never prevail. This is all the more true in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Paris, which we are observing closely.
But there are also grounds for hope. Like the hope that the right to abortion will be enshrined in the French Constitution by 8 March. This would send out a strong signal in support of women’s rights and health around the world. And on this topic in particular, allow me to spare a special thought for the women of Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, the same cruel logic will be at work all around the world in 2024.
In response, and in keeping with its values, Médecins du Monde will continue to play its part to right the wrongs facing women and men, by taking action in areas far from the media spotlight. Like in the Horn of Africa.
From the start of the year, we will be looking at the issue of partnerships. The aim is to enable us to assess the impact of our actions over the long term, with the constant aim of strengthening our partners.
To counteract this sombre vision of the world, in 2024 we will continue to use the strength and brilliant intensity of our unwavering activism and commitment to create hope and a better future.
We will continue to fight our many political battles, driven as we are by the hope of a fairer and more just world. As always, international humanitarian law, fundamental rights and human dignity are our moral compass.
From our actions to our advocacy, we must always bear in mind that no victory is too small. Every step in the right direction, however small, is a milestone that we can always build upon.
Even if we are not always victorious, we must always remember that we are on the “right side”, the side of humanity. And we will never give up. The fate of millions of lives depends on us.
We will continue to call relentlessly for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This is the one and only way to protect the people.
To finish this quick overview, I’d like to invite you to take part in some key events during the Médecins du Monde year.
These are all important events in the life of our organisation: the Scientific Day on 4 April at headquarters, the 4th edition of Speedons from 29 February to 3 March in Lyon, the AGM on 8 June, which will be held in Bordeaux this year because of the Olympic Games in Paris, and the MdM Days in the first week of October at headquarters. We look forward to sharing some of these times together.
And now we’re getting to the end of these New Year’s greetings, and the galette has never been closer!
On behalf of the Board and management, I would like to publicly thank all of you – the thousands of volunteers, employees and members – for your commitment, your energy and your dedication to Médecins du Monde.
Together with our donors, you are the beating heart of our organisation. But you are also our brains and our brawn, without which nothing would be possible.
Thank you for the progress we made in 2023, and thank you in advance for the journey we will take together in 2024.
As you can see, the year ahead promises to be a busy one for our organisation and its members.
So I’ll say it again, loud and clear: we won’t give up in 2024! We will not concede on any front!
We will continue to fight, everywhere and constantly, so that humanity does not remain an empty word and so that health becomes a truly in alienable right.
And to paint a better picture, let’s watch a short recap video from 2023, made by our communication department!
Thanks for your attention and for your commitment! And now it’s time for the galettes!