Mary Robinson to talk on human rights

Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland and international advocate for human rights, is to give the final lecture in this year's Our Changing World series. Robinson will speak on how human rights interact with the modern world at the McEwan Hall event on 20 November. In office from 1990 to 1997, Prof Robinson was the seventh President of Ireland and the first woman to hold that role. She left to take on the position of High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations from 1997 to 2002. Human rights remain an area of interest and expertise for Robinson. Since 2004 she has taught on international human rights at Columbia University in New York. In 2010 she set up the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice to advocate for and educate the world about those most affected by the changing environment, namely the world's poorest and more marginalised communities. Our Changing World is a series of free public lectures examining the global challenges facing society, and the role of academia in meeting these challenges. These issues include food, energy and water security, the spread of infectious diseases, developments in technology and medicine, and climate change The unique format offers an excellent opportunity for students, staff, and the public to engage with world-class thinkers. Mary Robinson - Human Rights in the Modern World