Now speaking - Mary Robinson, 7th President of Ireland

Mary Robinson is the first woman president of Ireland, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and currently serves as the President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative.

She is speaking about the issue of human rights, which, she explains, has not received the recognition globally that it should have. Although human rights have been integrated into legislation, constitutions, etc. human rights are still deemed an obstacle in the advancement of dialogue. She is explaining that we are at a critical juncture of a financial crisis, a food crisis, a human rights crisis, an environmental crisis all interplaying together that requires us to act urgently. Having a human rights focus, would help substantially in dealing with these crises, through the improvement of conditions for individuals, for organizations, and for countries. It will not be a race to the bottom but a gradual progression towards the top.