Outgoing UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has revealed that developed countries, traditionally regarded as her allies, became her sharpest critics during her five years in office when she spoke out about freedoms on their shores.
In an interview with AFP as she prepares to step down, Robinson also said her greatest regret was failing to elicit greater support to help developing countries which are lagging behind in their respect for human rights.
”I learned that human rights are not protected from Geneva or New York. They’re protected in those (developing) countries, and they need much more support in building up their administration of justice, rule of law and human rights standards,” she said.
”The main disappointment is that it wasn’t possible to get more support for developing countries,” she added.
The former Irish president ends an extended term as the UN’s top human rights official on Thursday, when she hands over to Sergio Vieira de Mello of Brazil.
During her time in office Robinson earned a reputation among some quarters for acting as the moral voice for victims of abuse, although some activists and diplomats thought she was too hesitant at times.
But Robinson insisted that 90% of her job had involved careful dialogue and diplomacy with all countries.
”The system applies to both developed and developing countries, it is when I have criticised developed countries that I have got the sharpest criticism,” she said.
”You focus on the speaking out when it is necessary and I have never regretted it, I think it’s most important there is a voice.”
The aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States had brought ”blurring of standards”, according to Robinson, with terror suspects detained for long periods without a lawyer or trial.
”The attacks on September 11 were not just on innocent lives, they were also attacks on the standards of democracy and freedom and human rights, so we must combat terrorism with standards.”
But Robinson said she was encouraged to see more voices being raised in the US in favour of ”a swing back” to those values.
Robinson was backed by the United States and European countries when UN Secretary General Kofi Annan chose her in 1997.
At times, she struggled to find the right balance between
outspokenness and diplomacy, leading to public clashes, notably with Algeria and China.
Her controversial positions on the Middle East failed to ease Israel’s reluctance over cooperating with the UN rights office.
But by the end of her term, the Algerian ambassador was calling on her to stay on, and countries like China and Iran were gradually opening their doors to assistance or scrutiny.
”It can work. Except for some countries, it is the West who let her down, surprisingly in the end. It’s not the Chinas or whatever,” said Loubna Freih, of US-based group Human Rights Watch.
But Robinson has managed to raise the profile of the nine-year old office.
”With an increased profile comes increased exposure and therefore increased criticism or a backlash,” Freih added.
After a holiday, Robinson said she would go to work in New York and Geneva with three research and campaign groups, to help bridge the gap in resources available for human rights protection in developing countries. – Sapa-AFP