In general, I don't think that economic, social and cultural rights are primarily a matter of going to court. They are most useful today as commitments which can help ensure effective and equitable policy-making at every level. Mary Robinson More Quotes by Mary Robinson More Quotes From Mary Robinson I can see the immense capacity of business to give leadership. Mary Robinson immense capacity giving The fossil-fuel-based development model has not benefitted all people and those who have benefitted least are now suffering great harm in the face of climate change. Mary Robinson fossils suffering people The changing climate is a threat to human rights. Mary Robinson threat climate rights The MDGs have been useful in moving human rights and development discourse together and in highlighting the need for greater accountability at all levels. Mary Robinson mdgs rights moving As Elders we have great respect for all religions and traditions as important forces that bind people together. Faith and tradition provide much of the foundation of our laws and social codes. But where religion and tradition are used to justify discrimination and especially when they are used to justify cruel and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, infanticide and child marriage, then we believe that is unacceptable. Mary Robinson law believe children The fifth province is not anywhere here or there, north or south, east or west. It is a place within each of us. It is that place that is open to the other, that swinging door which allows us to venture out and others to venture in. Mary Robinson venture east doors The Snow-drop, Winter's timid child, Mary Robinson winter snow children It is necessary to ensure that the requirement to combat terrorism is not used to clamp down on freedom of expression, legitimate dissent, freedom of association and so on. Mary Robinson requirements association expression Many people today in the developed countries are so far removed from poverty and suffering and starvation that they lack empathy for the sufferings of others. Mary Robinson suffering-of-others country people When a genocidal killing occurs, as happened in Rwanda, it is not just an internal domestic matter. Mary Robinson rwanda killing matter I'm a very wide reader. I read serious books and I read airplane, forgettable books. I never have fewer than four or five books beside my bed at night. I particularly enjoy reading about people who have gone through a personal growth. Mary Robinson airplane reading book We must encourage energy conservation and sustainable development. Young people are the ones who are most environmentally conscious in Ireland, so that to some extent they are educating their parents. They are tackling issues of waste disposal and so on. The schools help, because they put a lot of stress on environmental awareness. Mary Robinson issues stress school We need more emphasis on linking jobs and economic progress with environmental issues, and not allowing environmentally damaging industries to be brought into the country simply to provide employment. It's not easy to balance. Mary Robinson issues jobs country People I admire have two qualities: a kind of simplicity, and generosity of spirit. It seems to me that the more impressive people are in what they have done, the simpler they tend to be in how they talk to you, or in what they say or write. Mary Robinson writing two people I was influenced at an early age by Gandhi, and I have read many biographies of him. I have been greatly influenced in the last twenty years by Mandela. It is amazing that he has managed to keep such a balance, that he came out of prison after such a long time as a rounded, holistic person who could reach difficult accommodations with generosity. Mary Robinson generosity long years The Great Famine is a period of our history that we need to know in great detail in order to understand its continuing impact on us as a people. Its causes were complex. We can't apportion blame simplistically but rather [must] understand that blame has to be shared in different areas and levels of society. It was the very poorest of the poor, the small tenants and cottiers, who really suffered. Others were less affected. But most of all I welcomed the commemoration because it was a moment to look into our past and realize the courage and resilience of those who survived. Mary Robinson impact order past I felt when I was elected that the most important task on this island [Ireland] was to extend the hand of friendship right across the board to the people of Northern Ireland, to have the beginnings of a real peace process. In consequence, although I have no role in intergovernmental talks or political discussions, that would be my very top priority. Mary Robinson real islands hands When we see companies who are in complicit relationships with China, for example, making huge profits by providing China with the very software that enables the state to censor its own people, that is not acceptable. We need to engage with such companies to make their responsibilities clear. Mary Robinson example responsibility people If the Chinese business community takes the Declaration of Human Rights, core labor standards, and environmental standards seriously, the government of China will take them far more seriously, too. Mary Robinson community government rights Particularly here in the United States there is a lack of comprehension about anything to do with the United Nations. Mary Robinson united-nations comprehension united-states
