Mary Robinson was United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. During those five tumultuous years, which included the tragic events of 9/11, she offered moral leadership and vision to the global human rights movement. This volume collects her major public addresses from the period.

Few names are so closely connected with the cause of human rights as that of Mary Robinson. As former President of Ireland, she was ideally positioned for passionately and eloquently arguing the case for human rights around the world. Over five tumultuous years that included the tragic events of 9/11, she offered moral leadership and vision to the global human rights movement. This volume is a unique account in Robinson's own words of her campaigns as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. A Voice for Human Rights offers an edited collection of Robinson's public addresses, given between 1997 and 2002, when she served as High Commissioner. The book also provides the first in-depth account of the work of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights. With a preface by Kofi Annan and an Afterword by Louise Arbour, the present Human Rights Commissioner, the book will be of interest to all concerned with international human rights, international relations, development, and politics.

• Foreword by Kofi Annan Introduction by Kevin Boyle PART I: A VISION FOR HUMAN RIGHTSChapter 1: A Personal Vision PART II: FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY AND NONDISCRIMINATIONChapter 2: The Struggle against RacismChapter 3: Women's Rights Are Human RightsChapter 4: Eliminating Religious Discrimination and IntoleranceChapter 5: Combating Other Discrimination and Exclusion PART III: DIMENSIONS OF THE MANDATE OF HIGH COMMISSIONERChapter 6: Human Rights DefendersChapter 7: Economic, Social, and Cultural RightsChapter 8: The Right to DevelopmentChapter 9: Human Rights EducationChapter 10: Children's RightsChapter 11: Minorities and Indigenous PeoplesChapter 12: Human Rights after ConflictChapter 13: Business and Human Rights PART IV: BUILDING HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTIONChapter 14: The High Commissioner and the United Nations Human Rights SystemChapter 15: Supporting United Nations Human Rights BodiesChapter 16: Working with Countries and RegionsChapter 17: Strengthening National Human Rights Protection PART V: CONTINUING CHALLENGESChapter 18: Mainstreaming Human RightsChapter 19: Terrorism, Peace, and Human SecurityChapter 20: Ethical Globalization Farewell Speech Afterword by Louise Arbour Appendix 1 Key International Legal InstrumentsAppendix 2 General Assembly Resolution 48/141 NotesEditorial AcknowledgmentsIndex