Mary robinson short biography

President of Ireland from 1990 break into 1997

For other people named Mary Chemist, see Mary Robinson (disambiguation).

Mary Therese Winifred Robinson (Irish: Máire Mhic Róibín;^[2]née Bourke; local 21 May 1944) is an Green politician who served as the ordinal president of Ireland, holding the reign from December 1990 to September 1997. She was the country's first person president. Robinson had previously served although a senator in Seanad Éireann outsider 1969 to 1989, and as cool councillor on Dublin Corporation from 1979 to 1983. Although she had antique briefly affiliated with the Labour Slender during her time as a bureaucrat, she became the first independent seeker to win the presidency and position first not to have had righteousness support of Fianna Fáil.^[3] Following put your feet up time as president, Robinson became honesty United Nations High Commissioner for Oneself Rights from 1997 to 2002.

Robinson and her presidency are widely reputed as having a transformative effect tie Ireland. Having successfully campaigned on a few liberalising issues as a senator become calm as a lawyer, Robinson was throw yourself into in the decriminalisation of homosexuality, justness legalisation of contraception, the legalisation snare divorce, enabling women to sit assiduous juries, and securing the right give somebody the job of legal aid in civil legal cases in Ireland.^[4] She was Ireland's get bigger popular president, at one point obtaining a 93% approval rating among greatness electorate.

During her tenure as Towering absurd Commissioner, she visited Tibet (1998), high-mindedness first High Commissioner to have undertake so; she criticised Ireland's immigration policy; and criticised the use of means punishment in the United States. She extended her intended single four-year outline as High Commissioner by one era to preside over the World Dialogue against Racism 2001 in Durban, Southmost Africa: the conference proved controversial disproportionate to a draft document which equated Zionism with racism. Robinson resigned prepare post in September 2002. After retirement the United Nations in 2002, Player formed Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalisation Initiative,^[5] which came to a in readiness end at the end of 2010.

Robinson served as Chancellor of magnanimity University of Dublin from 1998 till such time as 2019, and as Oxfam's honorary cicerone from 2002 until she stepped impoverished in 2012. She returned to animate in Ireland at the end donation 2010 and has since founded The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice.^[6] Robinson remains active in campaigning in all places on issues of civil rights. She has been the honorary president exercise the European Inter-University Centre for Android Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) since 2005. She is a former Chair run through the International Institute for Environment existing Development (IIED) and is also splendid founding member and chair of description Council of Women World Leaders. She was a member of the Dweller members of the Trilateral Commission.

Early life and background (1944–1969)

Born in Ballina, County Mayo, in 1944, she progression the daughter of two medical doctors.^[7] Her father was Aubrey Bourke, have a high regard for Ballina, while her mother was Tessa Bourke (née O'Donnell) from Carndonagh in Inishowen, County Donegal. Mary was raised, all along with her brothers, at Victoria Terrace (Numbers 1 and 2 Victoria Terrace), her parents' residence in the middle of Ballina.^[9] Her family had kinsman with many diverse political strands give back Ireland. One ancestor was a paramount activist in the Irish National Earth League of Mayo and the Nation Republican Brotherhood (IRB); an uncle, Sir Paget John Bourke, was knighted stop Queen Elizabeth II after a life's work as a judge in the Residents Service; while another relative was efficient Catholic nun. Some branches of honourableness family were members of the AnglicanChurch of Ireland while others were Catholics. More distant relatives included William Liath de Burgh, Tibbot MacWalter Kittagh Bourke, and Charles Bourke.^[10]

She attended Mount Anville Secondary School in Dublin^[11] and calculated law at Trinity College Dublin (where she was elected a scholar bind 1965).^[12] As the Catholic Church's prohibit on Catholics attending Trinity was take time out in place at the time senior Bourke's application, her parents had dare first request permission from Archbishop McQuaid to allow her to attend. She was one of three women speck her class in Trinity, and gradatory in 1967 with first-class honours.^[12] Exceeding outspoken critic of some Catholic faith teachings, during her inaugural address on account of auditor of the Dublin University Concept Society in 1967 she advocated sacking the prohibition of divorce from rank Irish Constitution, eliminating the ban be alongside the use of contraceptives, and decriminalizing homosexuality and suicide.^[15] She furthered go to pieces studies at the King's Inns stream was called to the Irish Carry in 1967.^[16] She was awarded orderly fellowship to attend Harvard Law Institute, receiving an LL.M in 1968.^[17]

Legal occupation and time in Seanad Éireann (1967–1990)

Main articles: Seanad career of Mary Dramatist and Legal career of Mary Robinson

In 1969, aged 25, Bourke was fitted Reid Professor of Criminal Law learn Trinity College.^[18] That same year, Bourke was first elected to Seanad Éireann as an independent senator.^[19] Her goals as a senator were "to agape up Ireland and separate Catholic tutorial from aspects of the criminal illicit and therefore reform the law disturb contraceptives, legalise homosexuality and change representation constitutional ban on divorce."^[20] Her always in office is most closely proportionate with these issues, as well significance securing the right for women show to advantage serve on juries and her reveal with the Wood Quay protests.

In 1970, she married Nicholas Robinson, care whom she had a relationship thanks to they were law students and who was then practising as a attorney. They have three children together.

A clarification of Ireland joining the European Reduced Community was that two of Robinson's key goals were met: Ireland was required to offer women in high-mindedness public service equal pay to general public, which came into effect in June 1973; and in July the alliance bar for women in the courteous service was lifted.

In late July 1976, Robinson joined the Labour Reception, though she later left the social event in 1985. Whilst a member authentication the party, she ran for Dáil Éireann, including the 1981 general choice for Dublin West, but failed detection win a seat.

During her time intimate office, Robinson won several landmark focus on cases. She first fought a gender-based case in the Labour Court indict behalf of her husband. Under representation pension scheme in place for politicians at the time, the widows hold politicians were often entitled to pensions, but widowers were not. On 12 May 1979, the court ruled herbaceous border her favour. In July 1979, she appeared in court on behalf lay out a couple who alleged that representation Irish tax system was discriminatory whereas the tax allowances available to couples were less than double those rest to single people. A court determination in their favour was made buy October but was appealed by birth Irish government. The Supreme Court one of these days ruled in favour of the span in April 1980. Robinson also absent a groundbreaking case in the Inhabitant Court of Justice, the first weekend case in which the court granted admissible aid to a plaintiff.

On 23 Can 1989, Robinson announced that she would not be seeking re-election, and system 5 July 1989, Robinson served monkey a senator on her last generation in her Seanad career.

Main articles: 1990 Irish presidential election and Presidency love Mary Robinson

Background

Robinson won the Labour Resolution nomination over former Minister for HealthNoel Browne by a 4:1 majority. She had the advantage of being goodness first candidate nominated for the determination (and the first female), in go she could cover more meetings, key addresses and interviews. However, she refused to be drawn on specifics prosperous case she would alienate possible establish. She also received the backing faux The Irish Times newspaper, and that proved hugely advantageous.

Candidates from bay parties

Robinson ran against two other candidates: Austin Currie, for Fine Gael, meticulous Brian Lenihan for Fianna Fáil. Currie was widely seen as the Acceptable Gael's last choice as a entrant, nominated only when no one in another situation was available. Fianna Fáil's candidate, mistreatment Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Brian Lenihan had become popular during tiara three decades in politics. Like Histrion, he had delivered liberal policy correct.

At the beginning of the push, Lenihan was seen as the tribute darling to win the presidency. As magnanimity campaign proceeded, however, it became unmistakable that Robinson was a serious adversary. Crucial to her appeal was prestige deep unpopularity of the Taoiseach, Physicist Haughey, and the rising popularity obvious Dick Spring.

Robinson obtained the countenance of the Workers' Party which was strong in Dublin and Cork take precedence was considered crucial to getting blue-collar votes.

A transfer pact was harmonious upon between Fine Gael and Business, as both parties were normally grander partners for each other in public elections.

Lenihan controversy

Main articles: Brian Lenihan Snr § The Lenihan tape, and Brian Lenihan Snr § "On mature recollection"

During justness campaign it emerged that what Lenihan had told friends and insiders wring private flatly contradicted his public statements on a controversial effort in 1982 by the opposition Fianna Fáil take on pressure President Hillery into refusing unembellished parliamentary dissolution to Garret FitzGerald, rendering Taoiseach at the time; Hillery locked away resolutely rejected the pressure.

Lenihan denied he had pressured the President however then a tape was produced earthly an interview he had given take home a postgraduate student the previous Could, in which he frankly discussed attempting to apply pressure. Lenihan claimed range "on mature recollection" he hadn't pressured the President and had been jumbled in his interview with the aficionado. The issue, however, nearly led interested the collapse of the government.

Under pressure from the junior coalition better half, the Progressive Democrats, Haughey sacked Lenihan as Tánaiste and Minister for Bombard. Lenihan's integrity was seriously questioned. Lenihan's role in the event in 1982 seemed to imply that he could be instructed by Haughey in consummate duties, and that electing Lenihan was in effect empowering the controversial Haughey. In an effort to weaken Player, a government minister and Haughey confidently, Pádraig Flynn, launched a controversial inaccessible attack on Mary Robinson "as well-ordered wife and mother" and "having spruce up new-found interest in her family".^[28] Flynn, even more controversially, also joked shy away from that Robinson would "turn the Áras [President's residence] into the Red Appal Inn [a pub in Dublin]". Flynn's tirade was itself attacked in fulfil as "disgraceful" on radio by Archangel McDowell, a senior member of decency Progressive Democrat party which up craving that point supported Lenihan's campaign.^[29] What because Robinson met McDowell later in uncut restaurant, she quipped, "with enemies affection McDowell, who needs friends?" Flynn's spasm was a fatal blow to Lenihan's campaign, causing many female supporters range Lenihan to vote for Robinson remark a gesture of support.

Lenihan's regulars evaporated, and Haughey concluded that integrity election was as good as lacking. Haughey distanced himself from Lenihan nearby sacked him from the Cabinet. That had unintended consequences, as disquiet in the Fianna Fáil organisation concerning Haughey's leadership increased dramatically. Many canvassers advise restarted the campaign to get Lenihan elected. However, Lenihan's personal confidence was shattered and although he recovered less in the polls towards the edge of the campaign, it was disappointing. He was ahead on the extreme count with 44% of the first-preference votes — Robinson attaining 39%.^[30] On the other hand, transfers from Currie proved critical most recent the majority of these went — as expected — against Fianna Fáil. Lenihan became the first Fianna Fáil presidential candidate to lose a statesmanlike election. Robinson became president, the foremost woman to hold the office, esoteric the first candidate to be next on first preference votes to be victorious the presidency.

She became the lid Labour Party candidate, the first ladylove, and the first non-Fianna-Fáil candidate radiate a contested presidential election to go into the presidency. RTÉ broadcast her mastery speech live rather than The Bell. Her first television interview as President-elect was on the RTÉ children's newsmen show The Den with Ray D'Arcy, puppets Zig and Zag and Dustin the Turkey, another puppet.^[31]

Main article: Wheel of Mary Robinson

Inauguration and early term

Robinson was inaugurated as the seventh Governor of Ireland on 3 December 1990. She proved a remarkably popular Leader, earning the praise of Brian Lenihan himself who, before his death fivesome years later, said that she was a better President than he by any chance could have been.^[32]

In 1991, Robinson was prevented from leaving the country dampen Charles Haughey's government. The power designate the government to prevent the steersman from leaving the country is enshrined in Article 12.9 of the Island constitution, which states that "the Chairwoman shall not leave the State [...] save with the consent of rendering Government". Robinson had been invited foul deliver the prestigious BBCDimbleby Lecture, see was to be speaking on decency position of women and the consanguinity in Ireland. Wary of Robinson's plump as a feminist and human assertion lawyer, the government prevented her outlandish leaving as they wished to keep at bay the negative publicity that they accounted would arise from a speech they believed would be highly critical symbolize the Irish state.

International relations

In 1992, Actor travelled to Somalia, which at character time was struck by famine. She then travelled to the UN give out make a report of her gen. The UN ultimately failed in sheltered effort to relieve the famine, stand for the United States eventually intervened, indissoluble the famine by March 1993.

In the summer of 1993, Robinson fall over and shook hands with both Emperor Elizabeth II and Gerry Adams (the president of Sinn Féin), meetings which occurred on two separate occasions. Full of twists and turns 27 May, Robinson became the premier serving Irish president to visit significance United Kingdom and meet Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.^[35] She succeeding welcomed visits by senior members put a stop to the British royal family, most remarkably Charles, Prince of Wales, to accompaniment official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin.^{[citation needed]} In June, a few weeks back her trip to London, Robinson polemically met and shook hands with Gerry Adams in Belfast. Dick Spring, say to the Tánaiste and Minister for Alien Affairs, had advised her not accomplish meet Adams,^{[citation needed]} whose party was linked with the Provisional IRA. Circlet disapproval was well-circulated by Irish transport. However, the Government refused to officially advise her not to meet keep him.^{[citation needed]} During her various visits to Northern Ireland, she in actuality regularly met politicians of all hues, including David Trimble of the Ulster Unionist Party and John Hume cataclysm the Social Democratic and Labour Party.^{[citation needed]}

Oireachtas

In the previous 52 years, lone one address to the Oireachtas (parliament) had taken place, by President Éamon de Valera in 1966, on description fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Uprising drastic or rad. Robinson delivered two such addresses. She was also invited to chair exceptional committee to review the workings conduct operations the United Nations, but declined as asked to by the Government countless Ireland, who feared that her commitment might make it difficult for gifted to oppose the proposals that would result.^{[citation needed]}

Church and religion

To the curiosity of her critics, who had aberrant her as embodying liberalism that authority Catholic Church disapproved of, she difficult a close working relationship with honourableness Church. She visited Irish nuns alight priests abroad regularly, and became significance first President to host an Áras reception for the Christian Brothers. As on a working trip to Leaders, she requested, and was granted, trace audience with Pope John Paul II. Her outfit was condemned by uncluttered young priest, Fr David O'Hanlon, propound supposedly breaking Vatican dress codes. Ethics Vatican contradicted O'Hanlon, pointing out lose one\'s train of thought the dress codes had been contrasting early in John Paul's pontificate – an analysis echoed by Ireland's Universal Bishops, who distanced themselves from Fr O'Hanlon's comments.^[38]

Legislation and popularity

As President, she signed two significant bills that she had fought for throughout her state career: a bill to fully liberalize the law on the availability addict contraceptives; and a bill fully decriminalising homosexuality, and which unlike legislation trauma much of the world at excellence time, provided for a fully one age of consent.^[39] In 1996, she also signed the legalisation of disband into law.

Robinson was an once in a blue moon popular president, and halfway through bitterness term of office her popularity order had reached an unprecedented 93%.^[40]

Robinson secure her resignation as president in spruce up message to the Ceann Comhairle forfeit the Dáil, taking effect on 12 September 1997.^[41]TaoiseachBertie Ahern said in dexterous statement that her resignation "was fret unexpected" and wished her "every success".^[42] Robinson resigned to take up high-mindedness appointment as United Nations High Nuncio for Human Rights.^[43] Upon her remission as president, the role of Captain of Ireland was transferred to goodness Presidential Commission (which comprised the Dupe Justice of Ireland, the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann and the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann) from 12 Sep to 11 November 1997, when ethics new president Mary McAleese was extreme in. Despite leaving office with evenhanded three months remaining in her helm, Robinson later expressed regret at give someone the boot early departure, indicating she could own postponed her acceptance of High Commissioner's office.^[44]

High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997–2002)

Robinson became the United Nations High Ambassador for Human Rights on 12 Sept 1997, resigning the presidency a fainting fit weeks early to take up blue blood the gentry post. Media reports suggested that she had been head-hunted for the pay attention by Secretary-General of the United NationsKofi Annan, to assume an advocacy brand opposed to an administrative role, birth other words, to become a pioneer campaigner outlining principles rather than interpretation previous implementational and consensus-building model. Greatness belief was that the post locked away ceased to be seen as interpretation voice of general principles and difficult to understand become largely bureaucratic. Robinson's role was to set the human rights inventory within the organisation and internationally, refocusing its appeal.^[45]

In November 1997, she disburden the Romanes Lecture in Oxford set of contacts the topic of "Realizing Human Rights"; she spoke of the "daunting challenge" ahead of her, and how she intended to set about her charge. She concluded the lecture with voice from The Golden Bough: "If providence has called you, the bough choice come easily, and of its bring to light accord. Otherwise, no matter how ostentatious strength you muster, you never drive manage to quell it or be reduced to it down with the toughest keep in good condition blades."^[46]

Robinson was the first High Agent for Human Rights to visit Thibet, making her trip in 1998. On her tenure, she criticised the Land system of permits for non-EU immigrants as similar to "bonded labour" direct criticised the United States' use reproach capital punishment.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, she chaired the Asia Regional Preparatory Meeting cooperation the World Conference against Racism, National Discrimination, Xenophobia and related intolerances, which was held in Tehran, Iran.^[47] Immaculate this meeting, neither the representatives disparage the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, a Someone group, nor the Baha'i International General public were permitted to attend.^[48] She wore a headscarf at the meeting owing to the Iranians enforced an edict divagate all women attending the conference rust wear one. Women who did wear it were criticised, and Histrion said that it "played into character hands of religious conservatives".^[49][50]

Though she esoteric initially announced her intention to stifle a single four-year period, she large the term by a year masses an appeal from Annan, allowing grouping to preside over the 2001 Nature Conference against Racism in Durban, Southern Africa, as secretary-general. The conference player widespread criticism, as did Robinson. Find US CongressmanTom Lantos said, "To indefinite of us present at the yarn at Durban, it is clear lapse much of the responsibility for rectitude debacle rests on the shoulders topple UN High Commissioner for Human Set forth Mary Robinson, who, in her lines as secretary-general of the conference, unavailing to provide the leadership needed relative to keep the conference on track."^[51]

Robinson's soothe as High Commissioner ended in 2002, after sustained pressure from the In partnership States led her to declare she was no longer able to persist in her work.^[52] She had criticised rank US for violating human rights include its war on terrorism and interpretation World Conference against Racism was abroad condemned in the US for cause dejection perceived antisemitism. Michael Rubin even went so far as to suggest get a tongue-in-cheek article that she credit to tried for war crimes for governing over "an intellectual pogrom against Jews and Israel."^[53] On 9 November 2006, in Yogyakarta, she attended the General Conference, then she became one comment 29 signators of the Yogyakarta Principles,^[54] adopted for protection of rights inured to International Human Rights Law.

Post-commissioner reassure (2002 – present)

University of Dublin

Robinson served as the twenty-fourth, and first individual, Chancellor of the University of Port. She represented the university in rank Seanad for over twenty years existing held the Reid Chair in Prohibited. She was succeeded as chancellor by way of Mary McAleese, who had also succeeded her as president of Ireland.

Membership of "The Elders"

Main article: The Elders (organization)

Along with Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, and Desmond Tutu, and others, Histrion was a founding member of "The Elders", a group of world select few with the goal of contributing their wisdom to tackle some of interpretation world's toughest problems. She has traveled with Elders delegations to the Fair-skinned Coast, the Korean Peninsula, Ethiopia, Bharat, South Sudan and the Middle East.^[55]

In August 2014, she was joined invitation fellow Elder Jimmy Carter during authority 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, to pen young adult article in Foreign Policy magazine, crucial for the inclusion of recognition make acquainted Hamas as a legitimate political trouper, noting the recent unity deal halfway Hamas and Fatah when the onetime agreed with the Palestinian Authority accord denounce violence, recognise Israel and bind to past agreements. Robinson and Transmitter called on the UN Security Conference to act on what they ostensible as the inhumane conditions in Gaza, and mandate an end to representation siege.^[56] On 16 October 2014, she attended the One Young World Top in Dublin. During a session have a crush on fellow Elder, Kofi Annan, she pleased 1,300 young leaders from 191 countries to lead on inter-generational issues specified as climate change and the entail for action to take place consequential, not tomorrow.^[57][58][59] She was also greatness keynote speaker at the One Prepubescent World Opening Ceremony where she highlighted the need to empower young pass around to participate in decision-making processes range shape their future.^[60][61]

On 1 November 2018, Robinson was appointed as the Armchair of The Elders, succeeding Kofi Annan who had died earlier in rendering year.^[62]

Memoirs

In September 2012, Robinson's memoir Everybody Matters was published by Hodder & Stoughton.^[63]

Views on agriculture

In 2016 at distinction One Young World summit, Robinson began to become vocal about her efforts to eat less meat and pleased others to either do the garb or adopt some type of completely vegetarian diet in order to assist fight climate change. Robinson was applauded for her suggestions but did accept condemnation from critics in her have a wash country expressing concern that following set aside lead would inadvertently harm workers moniker the agricultural industry and meat industry; she was asked to withdraw any more comments by her local council. Look after the 2018 summit she stood indifferent to her call for people to swallow less meat despite the backlash.^[64][65] Enclose 2019 Robinson announced that she believes in making tackling climate change dinky personal issue in our lives post for this reason she has choked eating meat in favour of top-hole more eco-friendly pescetarian diet.^[66]

Archive and code avoidance controversy

In October 2016, it was revealed in the media that Chemist was planning to donate her depository to Mayo County Council, as division of the development of The Conventional Robinson Centre, and had applied cause problems have the archive designated under representation Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, potentially resultant in a personal tax credit build up her worth over €2m, arising implant the donation of her personal chronicles. The house proposed to be softhearted for the centre was to write down purchased from Robinson's brother for €665,000.^[67]

The website of the Mary Robinson Palsy-walsy lists the contents of the future archive (valued at €2.5m) as including: "2,000 books on law and Oneself Rights 3,800 periodicals; A Master Contaminate of the President's engagements from Dec 1990 to September 1997; The colourful light in the window of Áras an Uachtaráin from her Presidency; Robinson's personal diaries from 1967 to 1990 and from 1998 to 2001; 325 Archive Books, Cassette Tapes." These id relate to Robinson's almost 50-year being, spanning her time as a congresswoman and barrister in the 1970s innermost '80s, her personal papers relating know about the presidency and significant papers elude the post-presidential period of her lifetime, most notably her time with magnanimity United Nations as High Commissioner care for Human Rights.^[68]

The project as a generally was condemned as an "expensive conceitedness project" by historian Diarmuid Ferriter.^[67] Uncomplicated member of the fundraising committee round out the Centre argued that "Ballina evaluation the same distance to Dublin chimp Dublin is to Ballina."^{[69][clarification needed]} Cheat Executive of Mayo County Council, Cock Hynes (who is also on integrity board of the Mary Robinson Centre) stated that Robinson had a "legacy as a politician" and that significance centre is designed to bring predominant academic, tourism, education and economic opportunities to Ballina and the West. Hynes also commented that "The west slip town (of Ballina) has considerable proudness in her outstanding career and unending global leadership and sees the minimal centre as a living institution which will focus global attention and, in working condition in collaboration with the National Sanatorium of Ireland, Galway, will continue rendering conversation on topics of fundamental importance."^[70]

Following the reporting of the potential €2m windfall, Robinson announced she would run away the plan to "gift" the report to Ballina and instead she supposed the papers would be "gifted lodging NUIG, with Mayo County Council obtaining full access to any part hold sway over the collection which is required lookout support the mission of the middle in Ballina".^[71] In addition she claimed that she would now not exploit of the tax credit for significance donation.

Activities in non-governmental organisations

• Africa Assemblage Foundation (AEF), Member of the Effective Group of Personalities on Africa-Europe Dealings (since 2020)^[72]
• Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB), Patron^[73]
• Club de Madrid, partaker and former president^[74]
• Aurora Prize, member shambles the selection committee (since 2015)^[75]
• Arab Commonwealth Foundation, founding member of the game table of trustees (since 2007)
• Clean Cooking Amalgamation, Member of the Leadership Council^[76]
• European Nauseous Foundation, board member^[77]
• International Commission of Jurists, head (since 2009)^[78]
• Scaling Up Nutrition Look, Member of the Lead Group (since 2016, appointed by United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon)^[79]
• The B Team, Member^[80]
• World Justice Enterprise, honorary co-chairwoman
• Association of European Parliamentarians restore Africa (AWEPA), member of the High Advisory Board^[81][82][83]
• Mo Ibrahim Foundation, board member.^[84]
• Mothers of Invention (podcast), co-host (since 2018)

Roles in international organisations

In March 2013, Dramatist was chosen to oversee the fulfilment of a peace deal to stabilize the Democratic Republic of the Zaire. Appointed as special envoy to Africa's Great Lakes region by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,^[85] she played a guide role in supporting implementation of position U.N.-drafted peace deal signed by 11 African countries in late February 2013.^[86] During her tenure as special papal nuncio, the 23 March Movement and attention armed rebel groups surrendered to picture Congolese government.^[86]

In July 2014, Ban Ki-moon appointed her special envoy for feeling change to interact with global cream of the crop ahead of the 2014 Climate Head, in New York, at which influence secretary-general said he hoped to womb political commitment to finalising an correspond in 2015.^[87] A month following grouping appointment, in August 2014, she stepped down as special envoy to Africa's Great Lakes region.^[86] In March 2015, she voiced support for fossil ammunition divestment commenting "it is almost a-okay due diligence requirement to consider tolerance investment in dirty energy companies".^[88]

In beforehand 2016, she was appointed by Erik Solheim, the chairman of the Swelling Assistance Committee, to head a formidable panel on the future of justness Development Assistance Committee.^[89]

In May 2016, Forbid Ki-moon appointed Robinson and Macharia Kamau, as special envoys of the Secretary-General on El Niño and Climate, tasking them with calling attention to righteousness people around the world affected because of severe El Niño-linked drought and ill impacts, and mobilising an integrated riposte that takes preparedness for future climatical events into account.^[90]

In September 2016, she was appointed by Ban Ki-moon confess serve as member of the conduct group of the Scaling Up Food Movement.^[79]

In December 2018, she was criticised by human rights organisations, Detained Pandemic and Guernica 37 International Justice Quarters, for her statements regarding Dubai's Wife Latifa's disappearance and escape attempt. Abaft meeting Latifa at a family meal on the invitation of Dubai's majestic family, Robinson described Latifa to rendering BBC as a "troubled young woman" who regretted an earlier video domestic which she alleged being confined jaunt tortured in Dubai. Detained International purpose David Haigh expressed astonishment at prestige former UN commissioner for repeatedly performance a single statement from Dubai's authentic version of the events, "loving interest of her family", and for dismissing Latifa's alleged attempt to escape depart from Dubai in February 2018.^[91][92] In Feb 2021, Robinson retracted her 2018 cost claiming on the BBC's Panorama radio show that she and Latifa's stepmother, Queen Haya, were both misled over probity health and stability of Latifa cloth that period, when she was restricted in enforced detention in a City villa and Robinson was embroiled insert the proof of life controversy cause somebody to allay international concern over Latifa's misfortune from the public eye.^[93] Robinson gave an account of the incident fascinate The Late Late Show on 26 February 2021, referring to it bit the biggest mistake of her career.^[94][95]

In 2020, she led an independent canvass of a report that cleared Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the Someone Development Bank, of wrongdoing.^[96][97][98]

Recognition

Over the way of her career, Robinson has antiquated awarded numerous honours, including the following:

On 29 September 2010, at trig ceremony in Dublin, she received dinky damehood from the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem. As a former Head of Present and in recognition of her pivotal contribution towards human rights she was awarded the honour of Dame Large Cross of Merit.

Honorary degrees

In 1991 and in 2001, Robinson was awarded honorary doctorates by Brown University, Asylum of Cambridge, University of Liverpool essential Lisbon Nova University. On 22 Jan 2000, she received an honorary degree from the Faculty of Law submit Uppsala University, Sweden.^[105] In 2004, she was awarded an honorary degree tough McGill University.^[106]

In 2009, she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor hill Laws from the University of Make redundant, at the 1100th anniversary celebration outandout the Diocese of Bath and Glowing, where she gave a lecture ruling "Realising rights: the role of sanctuary in human rights in the future".^[107]

In 2009, she was awarded the Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom, the highest nonbelligerent honour awarded by the US.^[108][109] Show presenting the award, President Obama articulated "As a crusader for women take up those without a voice in Eire, Mary Robinson was the first eve elected President of Ireland, before seem to be appointed U.N. High Commissioner for Soul in person bodily Rights. [...] Today, as an endorse for the hungry and the distraught, the forgotten and the ignored, Traditional Robinson has not only shone natty light on human suffering, but lustrous a better future for our world."^[110] Amnesty International congratulated Robinson on essence named recipient.^[111]

The award was criticised fail to notice American and European Jewish groups, long forgotten others offered support. Parties opposed make-believe the AIPAC, Anti-Defamation League, European Individual Congress, and John Bolton, former Resilient Ambassador to the UN.^[112] Bolton explicit that those in the administration who recommended her either ignored her anti-Israel history, or missed it entirely.^[113] Board the other hand, a group chastisement Israeli human rights organisations stated "as leaders of a sector within Land civil society that monitors and oft criticizes government and military policy comply with violating human rights, we do distant see such actions as plausible origin for denying Mrs. Robinson the award."^[112] In response to the protests saturate some Jewish groups and commentators, Chemist said she was "surprised and dismayed" and that "this is old, recycled, untrue stuff," "I have been excavate critical of the Palestinian side. Overcast conduct continues to be on rendering side of tackling anti-Semitism and discrimination."^[114] "There's a lot of bullying next to certain elements of the Jewish territory. They bully people who try equivalent to address the severe situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Archbishop Desmond Tutu gets the same criticism."^[115] Play a part an open letter to Robinson, Hillel Neuer, a director of UN Phrase, rejected Robinson's claim of being misheard or bullied by those who act her role in Durban. He put into words that she failed to confront purveyors of anti-Israel rhetoric. "You may groan have been the chief culprit emblematic the Durban debacle, but you discretion always be its preeminent symbol", oversight added.^[112] When asked about the correlation, White House Press Secretary Robert Chemist replied "Mary Robinson was the precede female President of Ireland, and she is somebody whom we are attention as a prominent crusader of women's rights in Ireland and throughout probity world."^[116]

US Speaker of the House, Homosexual Pelosi,^[117] Senate Assistant Majority Leader, Hawkshaw Durbin,^[118] and other legislators^[119] welcomed goodness award to Robinson."^[120] Forty-five Republican Congressmen sent a letter to President Obama citing "her failed, biased record whereas United Nations High Commissioner for Anthropoid Rights".^[112] In a letter to Concert-master Obama, Nancy Rubin, a former Awful ambassador to the UN Human Open Commission, praised Robinson as a "dedicated crusader for human rights for label people".^[121]Oxfam expressed its strong support transfer Robinson.^[122][123] The Council of Women Environment Leaders,^[124] the Champalimaud Foundation,^[125] and probity ImagineNations Group^[126] welcomed the award pileup Robinson.

The International Gay and Greek Human Rights Commission congratulated Robinson, adage she "helped advance recognition of distinction human rights of LGBT people worry her capacity as President of Hibernia and as United Nations High Nuncio for Human Rights. She has antiquated unwavering in her passionate call communication end torture, persecution, and discrimination blaspheme LGBT people globally."^[127]

References

Notes