Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson to address Class of 2004
November 13, 2003
Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will address the Class of 2004 at Wheaton's 169th commencement on May 22, 2004.
As a practicing lawyer in Dublin, Robinson argued landmark cases, including her successful fight for the right of Irish women to contraception in the 1970s. A believer in law as an instrument for social change, Robinson forged a reputation for supporting basic human rights from the very beginning of her career.
Robinson was the first woman elected president of Ireland, an office she held from 1990-1997. As president Robinson was credited with developing a new sense of Ireland's economic, political and cultural links with other countries and cultures. During her presidency Robinson placed special emphasis on the needs of developing countries, linking the history of the Great Irish Famine to today's nutrition, poverty and policy issues. She focused on creating a bridge of partnership between developed and developing countries: for example, Robinson was the first head of state to visit Somalia during the 1992 famine and Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.
After a distinguished seven-year presidency, Robinson was appointed High Commissioner of Human Rights for the United Nations. President Clinton called her a ''splendid choice'' and pledged his administration's full cooperation.
Now based in New York, Robinson is leading a new project, the Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI), supported by a partnership of the Aspen Institute, State of the World Forum and the Swiss based International Council on Human Rights Policy. Robinson is capitalizing on her considerable human rights experience to promote fair and ethical globalization through this organization.
Wheaton President Dale Rogers Marshall is delighted at the opportunity to host Robinson as commencement speaker. Marshall said, ''Mary Robinson exemplifies values of national and international leadership and justice that Wheaton is proud to honor.''
Educated at Trinity College, Mrs. Robinson also holds law degrees from the King's Inns in Dublin and from Harvard University School of Law. The recipient of numerous honors and awards throughout the world, Robinson is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and the American Philosophical Society and, since 2002, has been Honorary President of Oxfam International. A founding member of the Council of Women World Leaders, she serves on many boards including the Vaccine Fund.
Wheaton, located in Norton, Mass., is a selective college of the liberal arts and sciences with a student body of 1,550. It is a member of the Twelve College Exchange, which also includes Amherst, Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Smith, Wellesley and Wesleyan.
For more information about Commencement/Reunion Weekend at Wheaton, please contact the Office of Communications at 508-286-8235.
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