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Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson

16 commentaries
5 videos & podcasts

Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland and former UN high commissioner for human rights, is Chair of The Elders and Chair of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s Advisory Board.

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  1. Climate Justice
    Tutu15_revisted Getty Images

    Climate Justice

    Sep 12, 2022 Desmond Tutu & Mary Robinson lament the rich world's lack progress toward recognizing what it owes climate-vulnerable countries.

  2. Supplying the Green Transition Must Be Fast and Fair
    robinson17_PABLO COZZAGLIOAFP via Getty Images_bolivialithium Pablo Cozzaglio/AFP via Getty Images

    Supplying the Green Transition Must Be Fast and Fair

    May 12, 2022 Mary Robinson emphasizes that efforts to secure key inputs for clean-energy investments must respect human rights.

  3. How to Make the Pandemic History
    kimoon28_Mahmoud HjajAnadolu Agency via Getty Images_covax Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    How to Make the Pandemic History

    Feb 17, 2022 Ban Ki-moon, et al. call for upcoming high-level international meetings to be used to close the ACT-A funding gap.

  4. Climate Accountability Now
    robinson15_Brook MitchellGetty Images_climate justice Brook MitchellGetty Images

    Climate Accountability Now

    Feb 11, 2022 Mary Robinson considers the steps that will be needed to redress the shortcomings of COP26 in Glasgow.

  5. A Human-Rights Approach to Global Challenges
    robinson14_ Mahmoud HjajAnadolu Agency via Getty Images_covax Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    A Human-Rights Approach to Global Challenges

    Jul 13, 2021 Mary Robinson says that a roadmap already exists to help humanity overcome the pandemic and tackle climate change.

  1. bildt122_Mikhail SvetlovGetty Images_trumpputin Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

    Trump Is Putin’s Only Hope Now

    Carl Bildt considers the implications of Ukraine finally receiving the Western military aid it has been waiting for.
  2. frankel159_Getty Images_customer service Getty Images

    How to Rebuild Trust in Public Institutions

    Eleanor Carter & Carolyn J. Heinrich highlight the value of face-to-face interactions at a time when governments are phasing out in-person services.
  3. isenberg1_TIMOTHY A. CLARYPOOLAFP via Getty Images_trumptrial Timothy A. Clary/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

    Is Trump Above the Law?

    Nancy Isenberg

    Contrary to what former US President Donald Trump would have the American public believe, no president enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. To suggest otherwise is to reject a bedrock principle of American democracy: the president is not a monarch.

    explains why the US Supreme Court must reject the former president's claim to immunity from prosecution.
  4. deryugina1_BEN BIRCHALLPOOLAFP via Getty Images_ukraineflagsoldier Ben Birchall/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

    Ukraine Is Far From Doomed

    Tatyana Deryugina & Anastassia Fedyk

    When comparing Ukraine’s situation in 2024 to Europe’s in 1941, Russia’s defeat seems entirely possible. But it will require the West, and the US in particular, to put aside domestic political squabbles and muster the political will to provide Ukraine with consistent and robust military and financial assistance.

    compare Russia's full-scale invasion to World War II and see reason to hope – as long as aid keeps flowing.
  5. glennerster2_Scott OlsonGetty Images)_vaccines Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    The Pandemic Financing Developing Countries Need

    Rachel Glennerster urges multilateral development banks to establish mechanisms that enable at-risk vaccine purchases.
  6. krueger74_AFP via Getty Images_nigercoup AFP via Getty Images

    The Geopolitics of Africa’s Debt Crisis

    Anne O. Krueger urges developed countries to back efforts by the IMF and the World Bank to promote growth-enhancing reforms.
  7. palacio156_ Georg Moritzpicture alliance via Getty Images_immigation Georg Moritz/picture alliance via Getty Images

    Why the EU’s New Migration Pact Matters

    Ana Palacio applauds the pragmatic coalition-building, especially by Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, that enabled the deal.
  8. kirchschlager1_Fatih AktasAnadolu Agency via Getty Images_AI Fatih AktasAnadolu Agency via Getty Images

    AI Needs UN Oversight

    Peter G. Kirchschläger calls for the creation of a watchdog – similar to the IAEA – that employs a human rights-based approach.
  9. chellaney_VCGVCG via Getty Images_china military VCG/VCG via Getty Images

    The West Is Hastening Its Own Decline

    Brahma Chellaney argues that the unprecedented US and European sanctions against Russia are backfiring.

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