Mary Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Robinson
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Robinson in 2024
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| 7th President of Ireland | |
| In office 3 December 1990 – 12 September 1997 |
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| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Patrick Hillery |
| Succeeded by | Mary McAleese |
| United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights | |
| In office 12 September 1997 – 12 September 2002 |
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| Secretary-General | Kofi Annan |
| Preceded by | José Ayala Lasso |
| Succeeded by | Sérgio Vieira de Mello |
| Senator | |
| In office 5 November 1969 – 5 July 1989 |
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| Constituency | Dublin University |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mary Therese Winifred Bourke
21 May 1944 Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent (before 1977, 1985–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labour Party (1977–1985) |
| Spouse |
Nicholas Robinson
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession |
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| Awards |
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| Signature |  |
Mary Robinson (born 21 May 1944) is an important Irish politician and human rights advocate. She made history as the seventh President of Ireland, serving from December 1990 to September 1997. She was the first woman to hold this high office in Ireland.
Before becoming president, Mary Robinson was a senator in the Irish parliament (called the Seanad Éireann) for 20 years, from 1969 to 1989. She also served as a local councillor in Dublin. She ran for president as an independent candidate, meaning she didn't belong to a major political party at the time. This was a big achievement, as she was the first independent candidate to win the presidency.
After her time as president, Robinson continued her work on the global stage. She became the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. In this role, she worked to protect and promote human rights around the world.
Many people believe Mary Robinson's presidency changed Ireland for the better. As a lawyer and senator, she fought for important changes like making divorce legal, allowing women to serve on juries, and ensuring people had the right to legal help in civil cases. She was incredibly popular, with her approval rating reaching a high of 93% at one point.
Since leaving the UN, she has continued to be active in global issues. She founded The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, focusing on how climate change affects people, especially the poor. She is also a founding member and former chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, a group of current and former female heads of state and government.
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Mary Robinson's Early Life and Education
Mary Robinson was born in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, in 1944. Her parents were both medical doctors. She grew up with her brothers in her family home in Ballina.
She went to Mount Anville Secondary School in Dublin. After that, she studied law at Trinity College Dublin. At the time, it was unusual for Catholic students to attend Trinity, so her parents had to get special permission for her to go. She was one of only three women in her law class and graduated with top honors in 1967.
She continued her legal studies at the King's Inns in Ireland and became a lawyer in 1967. She then received a special scholarship to study at Harvard Law School in the United States, where she earned another law degree in 1968.
Her Legal Career and Time as a Senator
In 1969, at just 25 years old, Mary Robinson became a law professor at Trinity College. In the same year, she was elected to the Irish parliament's upper house, the Seanad Éireann, as an independent senator. She served there for 20 years.
During her time as a senator, she focused on several important issues. She worked to change laws that were unfair to women and families. For example, she helped make it possible for women to serve on juries. She also supported the right to legal aid, which helps people get legal advice even if they can't afford it.
In 1970, she married Nicholas Robinson, who was also a lawyer. They have three children together.
Ireland joining the European Economic Community (now the European Union) helped with some of her goals. For instance, women in public service gained the right to equal pay as men in 1973. Also, the rule that forced women to leave their jobs in the civil service when they got married was removed.
Robinson also took on important court cases. She fought for equal pension rights for widowers, as previously only widows of politicians received pensions. She also challenged the tax system, arguing it was unfair to married couples. These cases helped bring about more fairness in Irish law.
In 1989, Mary Robinson decided not to run for re-election as a senator, ending her 20-year career in the Seanad.
Becoming President of Ireland
In 1990, Mary Robinson decided to run for president of Ireland. She was nominated by the Labour Party, but she ran as an independent candidate. She was the first candidate to be nominated, which gave her more time to meet people and share her ideas.
She ran against two other candidates: Austin Currie from Fine Gael and Brian Lenihan from Fianna Fáil. At first, Brian Lenihan was expected to win because he was very popular. However, as the campaign went on, it became clear that Mary Robinson had a strong chance. People were drawn to her message of change and human rights.
She also gained support from other groups, which helped her connect with voters from different backgrounds. A deal was made between Fine Gael and Labour to support each other, which also helped her campaign.
Her Time as President (1990–1997)
Mary Robinson became the seventh President of Ireland on 3 December 1990. She quickly became a very popular president. Even Brian Lenihan, her opponent, later said she was a better president than he could have been.
Early in her term, in 1991, the government tried to stop her from leaving the country to give a speech. They were worried she would criticize Ireland's policies. However, Robinson was determined to speak about important issues like women's rights.
International Connections
As president, Mary Robinson also played a role in international affairs. In 1992, she traveled to Somalia, which was suffering from a severe famine. She then reported her findings to the United Nations.
In 1993, she made history by becoming the first Irish president to visit the United Kingdom and meet Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. This was a very important step in improving relations between Ireland and the UK. A few weeks later, she met and shook hands with Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Féin, in Belfast. This meeting was controversial at the time, but Robinson believed in meeting with all political leaders to promote peace.
Working with the Parliament
Mary Robinson gave two important speeches to the Oireachtas (the Irish parliament) during her presidency. Before her, only one president had done this in 52 years. This showed her active role in Irish public life.
Church and Religion
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Even though she was known for her liberal views, Mary Robinson worked well with the Catholic Church. She often visited Irish nuns and priests working abroad. She also hosted a reception for the Christian Brothers at her official residence. She even met with Pope John Paul II in Rome.
Major Laws and Popularity
As president, Mary Robinson signed the law that made divorce legal in Ireland in 1996. This was a significant change for the country. Her popularity remained very high throughout her term, showing how much the Irish people supported her.
Leaving the Presidency
Mary Robinson resigned as president on 12 September 1997, a few weeks before her term officially ended. She left to take on a new role as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Irish government wished her well, and a special commission took over her duties until the new president, Mary McAleese, was sworn in. Robinson later said she regretted leaving a little early.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997–2002)
Mary Robinson started her new role as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 12 September 1997. She was chosen for this job by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, because they wanted someone who would be a strong public voice for human rights around the world.
In this role, she visited Tibet in 1998, becoming the first High Commissioner to do so. She also spoke out against Ireland's immigration policies, saying they were unfair. She also criticized the use of the death penalty in the United States.
In 2001, she led a major international conference in Durban, South Africa, called the World Conference against Racism. This conference aimed to address racism, discrimination, and related issues globally. She extended her term by a year to oversee this important event.
Her time as High Commissioner ended in 2002. She faced some criticism, particularly from the United States, for her views on human rights in the "war on terrorism" and for the controversial World Conference against Racism. Despite this, she continued to advocate for human rights.
After the United Nations (2002 – Present)
After leaving the UN, Mary Robinson continued her work in various important roles.
University of Dublin
She served as the 24th, and first female, Chancellor of the University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin). She had represented the university as a senator for over 20 years and had also been a law professor there. She was later succeeded as chancellor by Mary McAleese, who also followed her as President of Ireland.
Member of "The Elders"
Mary Robinson is a founding member of "The Elders." This is a group of respected world leaders, including people like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Their goal is to use their experience and wisdom to help solve some of the world's most difficult problems. She has traveled with this group to many countries, working on issues like peace and human rights.
In 2014, she joined fellow Elder Jimmy Carter to write an article about the conflict in Gaza, urging for a peaceful solution. She also spoke at the One Young World Summit in Dublin, encouraging young leaders to take action on global issues like climate change. In 2018, she became the Chair of The Elders.
Her Book
In September 2012, Mary Robinson published her memoir, a book about her life, called Everybody Matters.
Views on Food and Climate Change
Mary Robinson has become a strong voice in the fight against climate change. In 2016, she started talking about eating less meat and encouraged others to do the same. She believes that reducing meat consumption can help protect the environment. She has since adopted a pescetarian diet (eating fish but no other meat) because she sees it as more eco-friendly.
Work with Other Organizations
Mary Robinson is involved with many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international groups. She works on issues like human rights, climate change, and global development. For example, she is a patron of the Institute for Human Rights & Business and a board member of the European Climate Foundation.
In 2013, she was chosen by the UN Secretary-General to help implement a peace deal in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She played a key role in helping armed groups surrender to the government. In 2014, she became a special envoy for climate change for the UN, working with global leaders to prepare for climate summits.
Awards and Recognition
Mary Robinson has received many awards and honors throughout her career for her work in human rights and public service. Some of these include:
- 1997 – North–South Prize
- 1999 – Erasmus Prize
- 2000 – Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize by UNESCO
- 2002 – Sydney Peace Prize
- 2004 – Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award
- 2006 – Prince of Asturias Award for Social Science
- 2018 – Kew International Medal
- 2024 – Tang Prize in the field of "Rule of Law"
She has also received many honorary doctorates from universities around the world, including Brown University, University of Cambridge, and Uppsala University.
U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom
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In 2009, Mary Robinson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States. President Barack Obama presented the award, praising her as a "crusader for women and those without a voice." He said she "has not only shone a light on human suffering, but illuminated a better future for our world."
Amnesty International and many human rights groups congratulated her on receiving this honor. Some groups had concerns about her past actions, but many others, including Israeli human rights organizations, supported the award. Mary Robinson herself said she was surprised by the criticism and that she has always worked to fight against discrimination.
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission also congratulated her. They noted that she had helped advance the human rights of LGBT people during her time as President of Ireland and as UN High Commissioner.
Images for kids
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Mary Robinson's signature.
See also
In Spanish: Mary Robinson para niños
