EuropaWorld 23/3/2001 Out of Office Will Mary Robinson Have a Role to Play?

Will the forthright and outspoken United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, come to regret her decision, announced this week, not to seek a second four year term in the world's top human rights post?

The decision by the former President of Ireland was unexpected. She had held the job for four years during which time she had picked up the still relatively young organisation and set it on its feet, with better staffing, better fund raising and considerably increased visibility. Undoubtedly, she could have stayed on had she wanted. Why then go?

It is no secret that the diplomatic observances necessary in such a large multilateral structure as the United Nations were beginning to chafe. She perhaps had to pull too many punches. Even so her forthright comments angered governments.

She herself has said that she believes that she could achieve more for the human rights agenda, to which she has a deep and personal commitment, if she were outside the UN and a free agent.

The problem is, after next September, who will she be? Rulers of those countries that honour the human rights code more often in the breach than in the observance are not likely to be set quaking in their boots by the wrath of a single individual, however pre-eminent.

Surrounded by a large organisation, by helpful and flattering subordinates even the most gifted leaders sometimes believe that they can fly without the wings that such infrastructure provides.

It would be a tragedy, both for Mrs Robinson herself and for human rights in the world if she finds herself being upstaged (as she inevitably will be) by a successor who maybe will not be as talented or committed.

Despite the present congratulations and eulogies, she will, over the next six months, become a High Commissioner who has lost her bite. World leaders will look over her shoulder at her successor and listen with one ear, not two. The respect she now commands from will be degraded to mere politeness.

And what can she look forward to after September?: an endless round of conference presentations, newspaper articles, television punditry and dinners - but no real power to change the world.. The lumbering High Commissioner's office may seem like an iron ball around the ankles, but in reality it is the pontoon which keeps her afloat.

If Mrs Robinson really wants to make the world a better place, she should think again about the second term. Only the human rights abusers will object.