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About Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson is the founding director of the Ethical Globalisation Initiative. She was president of Ireland (1990-97) and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002). Mary Robinson was the first head of state to visit Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide and to visit Somalia following the crisis there in 1992. She is also the vice-president of the Club de Madrid. Robinson was named one of Time Magazine's 2005 "Heroes & Icons", men and women whose "power, talent or moral example is transforming the world." She received the CARE Humanitarian Award for Emergency Relief in recognition of her efforts in Somalia and has received numerous other awards and honours for her involvement in international affairs. Mary Robinson began her career as a human rights lawyer, founding the Irish Centre for European Law at Trinity College with her husband Nicholas Robinson. In 1969 she became the youngest Reid Professor of Constitutional Law at Trinity College, Dublin.

Articles by Mary Robinson

Tuesday 13th January

A crisis of dignity in Gaza

Mary Robinson, 13 January 2009

Overwhelming force must not become the new normality of the middle east

Thursday 22nd December

The human face of globalisation

Mary Robinson, 22 December 2005

In the last days of 2005, leading thinkers and scholars from around the world share their fears, hopes and expectations of 2006. Forty-nine of openDemocracy’s distinguished contributors, from Mariano Aguirre to Slavoj Zizek, Neal Ascherson to Jonathan Zittrain – offer their predictions for the coming year. Since this is openDemocracy, we did not expect them to agree. We were not disappointed. (Part Two)

Tuesday 9th December

Making 'global' and 'ethical' rhyme: an interview with Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson, 9 December 2003

The former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, now architect of the Ethical Globalisation Initiative, talks to openDemocracy about the 21st century human rights agenda – one that connects universal principles to the daily lives and needs of the world’s poorest people.