Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. As High Commissioner, she gave priority to implementing the reform proposal of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to integrate human rights concerns in all the activities of the United Nations. Mary Robinson has been Honorary President of Oxfam International since 2002; she is Chair of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and is also a founding member and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders. Mary Robinson’s newest project is Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative (www.realizingrights.org), which promotes equitable trade and development, more humane migration policies and better responses to HIV / AIDS in Africa. The organisation also promotes women's leadership and supports capacity building and good governance in developing countries. Since 2004, she has also been Professor of Practice in International Affairs at Columbia University, where she teaches international human rights.

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