Rama Yade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rama Yade
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Rama Yade in 2010
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| Member of the Regional Council of Île-de-France | |
| In office 21 March 2010 – 18 December 2015 |
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| President | Jean-Paul Huchon |
| Ambassador of France to UNESCO | |
| In office 22 December 2010 – 30 June 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Catherine Colonna |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Rondeau |
| Secretary of State for Sports | |
| In office 23 June 2009 – 13 November 2010 |
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| President | Nicolas Sarkozy |
| Prime Minister | François Fillon |
| Preceded by | Bernard Laporte |
| Succeeded by | Chantal Jouanno |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights | |
| In office 19 June 2007 – 23 June 2009 |
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| President | Nicolas Sarkozy |
| Prime Minister | François Fillon II |
| Preceded by | Lucette Michaux-Chevry (indirectly) |
| Succeeded by | None (Position abolished) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 December 1976 Ouakam, Dakar, Senegal |
| Nationality | Senegalese French (since 1997) |
| Political party | UMP |
| Spouse | Joseph Zimet |
| Alma mater | Sciences Po |
Rama Yade (born Mame Ramatoulaye Yade on 13 December 1976) is a French politician and writer. She was born in Senegal. Since 2021, she has been in charge of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council. This is a group that studies global issues.
Rama Yade has held important roles in the French government. She was the Secretary of Human Rights from 2007 to 2009. After that, she became the Secretary of Sports from 2009 to 2010. She also served as France's Ambassador to UNESCO from 2010 to 2011. UNESCO is a United Nations organization that promotes peace through education, science, and culture. She was also a leader in the Radical Party. In 2017, she tried to become president of France. However, she could not get enough support to officially run. Her campaign focused on helping "the forgotten people" of France.
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Early Life and Education
Rama Yade was born in Ouakam, a town in Dakar, Senegal. Her family was well-educated and from the Lebou group. Her mother, Aminata Kandji, was a professor. Her father, Djibril Yade, was also a professor and worked for the President of Senegal.
When Rama was eight years old, her family moved to France. Later, when she was fourteen, her father left the country. Rama, her mother, and her three sisters then moved into a public housing apartment in Colombes.
Rama Yade went to Catholic schools for her early education. She later studied at a famous university in Paris called the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, also known as Sciences Po. She finished her studies there in 2000.
Early Career Steps
Before becoming a government minister, Rama Yade worked in several important places. She worked at the city hall in Paris. She also worked at the National Assembly, which is one of the main parts of the French Parliament.
She also spent some time working for a political group called The Greens. In 2002, she became an administrator in the Senate, which is the other main part of the French Parliament.
Joining Politics
In 2005, Rama Yade joined a major political party in France called the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). By 2006, she became a National Secretary for the party, focusing on issues related to the French-speaking world (Francophonie).
She has said that the strong personality of Nicolas Sarkozy made her want to join the UMP party.
Government Roles
In May 2007, Rama Yade was chosen for an important job. She became the Secretary of State for Human Rights. This role was part of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. In this position, she spoke out against Muammar Gaddafi being invited to France in 2008. She pointed out that Libya, led by Gaddafi, had a poor record on human rights.
In November 2007, Rama Yade was invited to a special dinner at the White House in the United States. This dinner was hosted by U.S. President George W. Bush to honor French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
In 2009, Rama Yade was moved to a new role as the Secretary of State for Sports. In 2010, she openly criticized the France national football team. She thought it was wrong for them to stay in very expensive hotels during a time when many people were facing economic difficulties.
Ambassador to UNESCO
In December 2010, Rama Yade was appointed as the French Ambassador to UNESCO. UNESCO is a special agency of the United Nations that works to build peace through education, science, culture, and communication. She left this position in June 2011.
Radical Party and Beyond
In 2012, Rama Yade left the UMP party. She then joined the Radical Party. She supported Jean-Louis Borloo for president, but he decided not to run. Later, she supported Nicolas Sarkozy. She also joined another political group called the New Centre. Today, she leads a group called Allons Enfants!, which is a "think tank" – a group that does research and suggests ideas on public policy.
Running for Parliament
Rama Yade ran for a seat in the National Assembly of France in the 2012 parliamentary elections. She ran in a district called Hauts-de-Seine's 2nd constituency. However, she did not win the election. After this, she began working for a company in Paris that helps people find jobs.
Political Beliefs
Rama Yade is considered a moderate-conservative politician. She is also a strong supporter of feminism, which means she believes in equal rights for women.
Affirmative Action
She supports affirmative action. This means she believes in policies that help groups who have faced unfair treatment in the past, to ensure they have equal opportunities.
Burqas
In 2009, Rama Yade stated that she was not against a ban on burqas in France. A burqa is a full-body covering worn by some Muslim women. She believes such a ban would protect the idea of a secular (non-religious) government and the dignity of women. She has encouraged Muslims to adapt their traditions to modern times. In 2010, she suggested holding a public vote, called a referendum, on banning the full veil to avoid legal problems.
LGBT Rights
As Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, Rama Yade met with several LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) organizations in 2008. She announced that the government would officially recognize the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
When she became Secretary of State for Sports, she worked to fight against homophobia in sports. She took part in a conference in Paris in 2011 that focused on this issue.
In a 2011 interview, she said she would have voted for same-sex marriage if she had been in the National Assembly. In 2013, she stated that her support for same-sex marriage was part of her fight for equal rights. She was even called one of the most gay-friendly members of the government.
Foreign Vote
When asked about whether foreigners living in France should be allowed to vote, Rama Yade said this issue should be decided by a public vote. She personally believes that foreigners do not necessarily want the right to vote. Instead, she thinks they want their children, who are French citizens, to be well-represented in politics and other areas of society.
Syrian Civil War
Regarding the civil war in Syria, Rama Yade said that France should take action, including military action, because the Syrian people needed help.
Taxes
On the topic of taxes, Rama Yade has expressed concern that France is losing both wealthy people, like actor Gérard Depardieu, and that poor people feel let down. She believes this weakens France and its future.
Personal Life
Rama Yade is married to Joseph Zimet. His father is a Yiddish singer named Ben Zimet. Joseph Zimet has also worked as an adviser to a former Secretary of State. Her husband is Jewish. Rama Yade sees herself as a feminist, meaning she believes in equal rights and opportunities for women.
See also
In Spanish: Rama Yade para niños
