Medical doctor by profession, Initiator of modern humanitarian action, Biafra (1968). Founder of Médécins sans frontière” and Médécins du Monde. Confronted with the genocide in Cambodia, he imposed the right or duty to intervene on humanitarian grounds on U.N.O. Minister of State for Social Integration (1988). Minister of State for Humanitarian Action (1988–1991). France’s Minister of Health until 1999, when picked by Secretary-General Kofi Annan as his Special Representative for Kosovo. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (1999–2001). Minister Delegate at the Ministry for Employment and Solidarity with responsibility for Health (2001-2002). Recipient of several human rights awards, including the Dag Hammarskjold Prize and the Prix Europa.

Publications include: several books and the foundation of the news magazines L’ Evenement and Actuel.