Robinson’s new post was confirmed last week when the former United Nations high commissioner for human rights was described as a “modern Joan of Arc” for her human rights work and awarded the Otto Hahn Peace Medal in Berlin.
At Columbia, Robinson will also serve as an advisor to Columbia’s Earth Institute on a broad range of international development issues and as a senior research scholar at Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute.
“Mary Robinson is one of the most dynamic world leaders of our times — a true humanitarian who has spent her career advancing human rights and the principles of inclusiveness in her native Ireland as well as throughout the world,” said Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University.
“With her extensive diplomatic experience and years of work on ethical globalization, she will be a tremendous resource and an inspiration as we continue to build on programs of international education.”
Robinson, who was traveling last week and was unavailable for comment, was president of Ireland from 1990-97, taking what had been a largely ceremonial position and making it a powerful office for progressive change in Ireland and around the world. Robinson highlighted the plight of refugees, the poor and immigrants.
She is credited for greatly improving the situation of marginalized groups within her country as well as drawing attention to global crises and the needs of developing nations.
During her tenure as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), Robinson was instrumental in integrating human rights concerns throughout all UN activities, personally visiting regions of civil conflict, including Sierra Leone, Chechnya and the former Yugoslavia, and focusing international attention on East Timor.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mary to our faculty,” said Lisa Anderson, dean of Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.
“Human rights issues always have been a cornerstone of SIPA’s international affairs programs. Our students will benefit immensely from Mary’s hands-on work in many of the world’s most volatile areas, as well as senior state experience in Ireland and a strong United Nations portfolio.”
In October 2002, Robinson launched the Ethical Globalization Initiative to promote a more ethical and equitable globalization process through dialogue, research and concerted action. At Columbia, Robinson will continue as executive director of EGI, and the university will become a partner in this global effort. Other EGI partners include the Aspen Institute and the International Council on Human Rights Policy.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Earth Institute said: “We are delighted that the Earth Institute will house EGI’s research activities at Columbia, since Mary Robinson has long noted that basic human rights for the poor are essential in promoting sustainable development.”
Robinson has extensive experience in international law and global governance. At the age of 25 she was appointed the Reid Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law at Trinity College, where she also served as lecturer in European community law.
With her husband, Nicholas, Robinson founded the Irish Centre for European Law in 1988. A senator from 1969-89, Robinson practiced law at the Irish bar, and took leading cases to the Court of the European Communities in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg. She has also served on the Dublin City Council, the International Commission of Jurists and the Advisory Committee of Interights, and was an expert on European Community and Irish parliamentary committees.
Robinson is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and the American Philosophical Society. A founding member and now chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, she is honorary president of Oxfam International, chairs the Irish Chamber Orchestra and serves on many boards, including the Vaccine Fund.
Born in Ballina, Co. Mayo, Robinson was educated at Trinity College, where she received a masters of arts degree in 1970, and now serves as chancellor of the University. She also holds a barrister-at-law degree from the King’s Inns, Dublin, and a masters of law degree from Harvard.