The whole human rights structure is based on the accountability of governments. Mary Robinson More Quotes by Mary Robinson More Quotes From Mary Robinson We will not let governments off the hook. We will look to civil society to help us, to pin governments, to what they have committed to here. And we will report on it. Mary Robinson government letting-go looks If you live in a global world and you want to champion liberty in it, then you have you got to sign up to that global world. Mary Robinson champion liberty world I'm not interested in scoring points or being over-critical of the US administration. I want to find the entry points to try and get it back on track so that the United States can get out of the present disastrous situation it's in, and back into being a constructive force for human rights in the world. Mary Robinson track rights trying Tackling the issue of climate change presents us with an inflection point in human history - a climate justice revolution that separates development from fossil fuels, supports people in the most vulnerable situations to adapt, allows all people to take part, and, most importantly, realise their full potential. Mary Robinson issues justice people All countries are particular and no models are perfect. Mary Robinson particular perfect country There's a worldwide linking of environmental activists, developmental experts and human rights advocates. And they're using the two frameworks, in particular environmental standards and human rights. Mary Robinson environmental rights two I have a sense that South Africa is my other country apart from my native country that I particularly love, [that I] want to see succeed, and I did really want my message to be listened to. Mary Robinson messages want country Maybe this society, if anything, has become more patriarchal, and that has to be combated. Mary Robinson this-society ifs Young persons, because of their immaturity, may not fully comprehend the consequences of their actions and should therefore benefit from less severe sanctions than adults. More importantly, it reflects the firm belief that young persons are more susceptible to change, and thus have a greater potential for rehabilitation than adults. Mary Robinson immaturity benefits adults We now know that climate change is a driver of migration, and is expected to increase the displacement of populations. Mary Robinson population climate change Sharing experience and building public support for the full range of rights is more powerful than legal cases. Mary Robinson support powerful rights In human rights theory it is very important that governments still have the primary responsibility for the standards and provision of such services even if they no longer deliver them. They must insist that the private sector delivers without discrimination. So governments still have responsibility, including the need to influence business. Mary Robinson government responsibility rights We need a more holistic approach in which we take account of society's most vulnerable sectors. We shouldn't just do broad averaging of country statistics but rather we need to disaggregate the data to determine where the resources are most needed. In most cases, it's usually the reverse: those who are most marginalized - minorities and rural and remote communities - get the least attention and money. Mary Robinson data community country The term 'human rights' has been too often associated with conditionality, and with concerns of developing countries that in order to benefit from open trade they would be required to implement immediately labour and environmental standards of a comparable level to those applied in industrialised countries. At the same time, debates about the primacy of trade as against human rights legal codes have contributed to maintaining the unfortunate impression that the two bodies of law are pursuing incompatible aims. Mary Robinson law order country 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 rights commitment thinking We need to be prepared to have multi-stakeholder, well-managed partnerships. That can be very effective. We saw this happen at international level with the UN Convention on Landmines, for example, where some governments didn't want to go forward, but enough governments did and with them many NGOs. At international level we need to see this as the 21st century way of doing things. Mary Robinson government example needs I do not support individual countries taking military action against another country because of its human rights record, or subsequently justifying taking such action on human rights grounds. Mary Robinson military rights country Look, you are interested in trying to make sure that governments keep a clean environment, have regard for the lifestyles of indigenous peoples, and work for fair trade rules. Well, it's exactly the same for human rights - from non-discrimination to the basic rights to food, safe water, education and health care. We are talking rights not needs. There are standards that governments have signed up to - but nobody is holding them to account. Mary Robinson government rights talking Companies should increasingly see themselves as major corporate citizens with a wider responsibility to the community. Nothing less than their reputation - their image - is at stake. Mary Robinson citizens community responsibility Democracy is about constant vigilance. It's not straightforward, there will always be setbacks and you get particular be it religious fundamentalists, Christian fundamentalism - a partly conservative approach and actually trying to put women in a more traditional role. And we have to resist that. Mary Robinson religious christian trying
