A VISIONAL COMMITMENT
The François-Xavier Bagnoud Centre for Health and Human Rights was founded and endowed in 1993 by Albina du Boisrouvray, in partnership with its first director, Dr Jonathan Mann. The latter, a pioneer in the fight against AIDS and a strong advocate of the link between health and human rights, shared with Albina the same vision: protecting the most vulnerable, especially children.
Prior to their meeting, Albina du Boisrouvray had heard of Mann's work at the World Health Organization and considered him to be « a warrior defending health and human rights, committed to saving the most deprived and discriminated against ». For his part, Jonathan Mann had read an article about an anonymous donor funding the training of health workers on paediatric AIDS. « I remember thinking it was wonderful that such angels exist », he confided later.
In 1991, the François-Xavier Bagnoud Foundation supported the Global AIDS Policy Coalition at the Harvard School of Public Health, led by Jonathan Mann. A year later, the foundation announced a historic donation of $20 million, allowing the creation of the FXB Center, the construction of the François-Xavier Bagnoud building in Boston, and the establishment of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Chair in Health and Human Rights at Harvard.
A PIONARY UNIVERSITY CENTRE
As the first academic centre dedicated exclusively to the links between health and human rights, the FXB Centre for Health and Human Rights takes an interdisciplinary approach to promoting the equity and dignity of populations oppressed by racism, poverty and stigmatization, nationally and internationally. It brings together a broad network of academics, educators, elected officials, government agencies, NGOs and policy makers to demonstrate the impact of human rights violations, especially on children.
After Jonathan Mann's premature disappearance, several directors continued his work, including Dr Jim Yong Kim (2006-2009) and Dr Jennifer Learning (2010-2018). In 2018, Dr.Mary T. Bassett took over the leadership of the FXB Center after holding the position of New York City Health Commissioner, where she worked against structural racism affecting health inequalities. At the beginning of her career, then a physician in Zimbabwe, she had developed AIDS prevention initiatives in line with Dr Mann's vision, which already highlighted the influence of rights – or their absence – on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Today, the FXB Centre continues its commitment to a world where health and human rights are inseparable, embodying the legacy of François-Xavier Bagnoud and the values defended by Albina du Boisrouvray.