Christiane Taubira, from French Guiana, has been named minister of justice in the new French Socialist government. She’s the first black woman to become minister (Rama Yade, originally from Senegal, had been a junior minister in the previous government.) Taubira, who is on the left of the Socialist Party, is the author of a law, now called “Loi Taubira,” voted by the French Parliament in 2001, which recognizes the slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity.
She was the first person from the Overseas Department, the first woman, and the first person of color to run for president in 2002. Taubira, 60, a divorced mother of four has a PhD in economics, a BA in sociology, and a degree in African-American studies.
Another woman from the overseas departments, George Pau-Langevin from Guadeloupe—a member of Parliament representing Paris—was named junior minister for educational success. Victorin Lurel, also from Guadeloupe, became minister in charge of overseas departments.
