Mary Robinson

Robinson was elected as the first female President of Ireland in November 1990, running as an independent with Labour Party support. She defeated Fianna F

During her presidency (1990-1997), Robinson used the office to highlight human rights issues, including visiting Northern Ireland, meeting with the Pope, and speaking out on abortion and divorce. She also visited famine-stricken Somalia in 1992, raising the profile of the presidency internationally.

Robinson was appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1997, after leaving the Irish presidency. She served until 2002, advocating for human rights globally, including in China, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia. She criticized the US response to 9/11.

Robinson resigned as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September 2002, citing frustration with the lack of support from major powers, particularly the US, and the UN's failure to address human rights abuses. Her resignation highlighted tensions between human rights advocacy and realpolitik.