Simone Veil

I have chosen to talk to you about a French women who should be a role model for everyone.

Ms Simone Veil was born on July 13th, 1927. She was 17 when she was deported in Auschwitz with all her family. She spent thirteen months in this concentration camp and she was the only survivor with her sister: she lost all her relatives. I think she is a real example of courage and bravery. Surviving this hardship makes me think of her like a hero but it’s not the only thing.

After her release, she got her “baccalauréat” and began her studies. In the law university, she met her future husband, Antoine Veil. They got married in 1946 and had three sons. When she got her diploma, she decided not to become a lawyer as she has wanted to be before, but a magistrate.

In 1974 she became Minister of Health and filled this position for five years. On one hand, she proposed a good many plans to the government (like a law against tobacco in public places) but above all, she wrote an important law in 1975 about contraception and abortion which were forbidden before. Her ideas show us her will to make new plans to improve women’s lives and to make progress in equality between men and women. Moreover, the law she wrote about abortion launched a polemic because of people who didn’t see it as good idea, but she persevered and finally got what she wanted. Her determination allowed important progress for women of her period and for all the women today (at least in France).

On the other hand, she has been an exemplary politician. Indeed, she became the first woman President of the European Parliament and the first woman State minister. Nowadays, since 1998, she takes part in the Constitutional Council and supports a lot of associations with European vocations. That shows us her involvement towards her country and her continent. Taking care of social matters, health and city took a big part of her life. She has involved herself a lot in the development and in the improvement made by the French government for the citizens, and especially the women. Having access to those positions is not an easy thing, all the more as she is a woman so, once more, we can understand her deep determination.

To sum up, I think that her courage, her determination and her generosity are an example for everyone and trying to resemble her, with all her qualities, would be a good way to thank her for everything she has done.