Biography

Jean Ziegler was born on April 19, 1934 in Thun, Switzerland. He was a writer and producer, known for The Mandate - for whom International Law matters (2025), El hambre en el mundo explicada a mi hijo (2002) and Der Geist des Geldes (2007). He was married to Erica Deuber-Ziegler and Wedad Seinier. He died on June 10, 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Served as UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food from 2000 to 2008 and was also a member of a UN task force for humanitarian aid in Iraq.

Sociologist and former Swiss politician.

Taught academically in Geneva and at the Sorbonne in Paris, among other places.

Grew up in a middle-class environment, but left his family at the age of 18 and went to Paris.

Represented the canton of Geneva in the National Council from 1967 to 1983 and again from 1987 to 1999.