Mary Robinson

:Mary Robinson is also the name of an English poet, see Mary Robinson (poet)

High Commissioner for Human Rights

Robinson became the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 12 September 1997, resigning the Presidency a few weeks early with the approval of Irish political parties in order to take up the post. Media reports suggested that she had been headhunted for the post by Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan to assume an advocacy as opposed to administrative role, in other words to become a public campaigner outlining principles rather than the previous implementational and consensus-building model. The belief was that the post had ceased to be seen as the voice of general principles and had become largely bureaucratic. Robinson's role was to set the human rights agenda within the organisation and internationally, refocusing its appeal.

Related Topics:
United Nations - Human Rights - 12 September - 1997 - Secretary General of the United Nations - Kofi Annan

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In 1998 she became the first Commissioner to visit Tibet. During her tenure she criticised the Irish system of permits for non-EU immigrants as similar to "bonded labour" and criticised the United States use of the death penalty. Though she initially announced her intention of serving just one period in the post, after an appeal from Annan she extended her term by one year. Following her retirement (after the United States had made their displeasure at her criticism known), the post again went to an administrator who was tasked with implementing the role of the High Commission as defined by Robinson's high profile advocacy.

Related Topics:
Tibet - EU - United States - Death penalty

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