Former Irish President Mary Robinson visited Saint Louis University’s Busch Student Center on Tuesday, when she talked about the importance of human rights in the face of globalization.
Robinson, who has also served as chairperson of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights, delivered her 30-minute speech, “Making Human Rights the Compass for All Ethical Globalization,” to a crowd of approximately 550, according to Dan McGinnis, president of the Great Issues Committee, which co-sponsored the event.
“I was exceptionally pleased with the turnout and blown away by her speech,” McGinnis said. “I have already gotten more positive e-mails about her speech, alone, than the rest of our events this year.”
During the speech, Robinson said that international disagreement about the definition of human rights makes the concept difficult to apply. “When people think about human rights, they think about different things,” Robinson said.
She said that civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights, are included in human rights. “Both sets of human rights are important-rule of law and freedom of expression-but also access to food, water, sanitation, healthcare and education,” Robinson said. “Law and human rights should be relevant to everyday life.”
Robinson said that the UN’s non-binding Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was published in 1948, is accepted, but not enforced, by every nation.
She has had the Universal Declaration of Human Rights translated into 236 languages, more than any other document has been translated, setting a world record.
“Although it is the most translated document, it is not necessarily the most widely read,” she said.
She stressed the joint responsibility of world trade, service organizations, governments and individuals in making globalization ethical, referencing Article 29 of the Declaration, which states, “Everyone has duties to the community in which, alone, the free and full development of his personality is possible.”
Some nations, including the United States, don’t agree that social, economic and cultural rights are human rights.
“The [United States] has historically been skeptical about whether it’s appropriate to apply the ‘rights’ label to economic and social rights,” said David Sloss, SLU law professor. “They are concerned that if we start using ‘human rights’ to apply to everything, we could dilute the protection of core rights.”
Yet, human rights in some developing countries lag behind the rate of economic development.
“Some say ethical globalization is an oxymoron,” said Michelle Lorenzini, Ph.D., of SLU’s history department. “But the benefits of globalization are great, and if we don’t mitigate the costs, there could be a backlash.”
In an exclusive interview, Robinson discussed the role of women in global leadership.
As the first female president of Ireland and first female U.N. Human Rights Commissioner, Robinson is also chair of Women World Leaders, a gathering of female presidents and prime ministers.
“I’ve always been interested in leadership, generally, and women’s leadership, in particular,” Robinson said.
“Not to say that a man couldn’t have these qualities, but as a woman I come at this with certain advantages-qualities like problem solving, concern for practical issues and empathy with suffering.”
SLU junior and President of the Political Science Club, Molly Berendt, commented on Robinson’s success as a female and global leader. “Not only was she a former president, but she is also a woman. She was a lawyer and was part of the United Nations, all traditionally male-dominated professions. She broke all of those barriers, and she did it years ago,” Berendt said.
Robinson spent nearly 30 minutes answering questions from the audience after her speech. Maria Reilly, president of SLU’s Irish-American Student Guild, was impressed by Robinson’s regard for student inquiry.
“She gave time and consideration to each person’s question,” Reilly said. “She really cared what each person had to say.”
Robinson was also impressed with the SLU community’s concern for human rights issues.
“She said that she thought we already have a movement going here, and that she contributed to that movement,” McGinnis said. “She is so real and inviting, with real passion on her side. We showed her that SLU has that same passion.”
