“The 21st century is Africa’s century”

From the women peace-builders telling senior African Union officials “enough is enough” to the activists demanding justice for victims of sexual violence: Mary Robinson blogs about the inspiring women she met during her recent visit to Addis Ababa.

"The more we grow accustomed to voicing our opinions online, the more we resist being silenced."

In a blog for Skoll World Forum on Human Rights Day 2012, Mary Robinson argues that we must protect the internet as a space where fundamental freedoms prevail.

“Our visit was very timely; just a few days ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting at which Sudan and South Sudan would be on the agenda.” 

Mary Robinson blogs about visiting Brussels a week after travelling to Ethiopia and South Sudan on an Elders delegation. Together with her fellow Elder Martti Ahtisaari, she discussed the situation in the region with EU officials – as well as raising the issue of international sanctions against Zimbabwe.

“The camp, which did not exist two months ago, is remarkably well organised. And yet the international community is not doing enough to support them.”

Exactly one year since South Sudan gained its independence, Mary Robinson blogs about the Elders' visit on Saturday to a refugee camp hosting 35,000 people who have fled from recent fighting in the Sudanese state of Blue Nile.

As Egyptians celebrate the first anniversary of the uprising that removed Hosni Mubarak from power, Mary Robinson argues that it is time to challenge the patriarchal norms that continue to restrict women's political participation – and that Egypt's future as a just, democratic and prosperous nation depends on it.

Just ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mary Robinson blogs about The Elders' plans to put ending child marriage at the top of the international agenda.

"For too long, many authoritarian regimes have falsely claimed that certain values – freedom, justice, human rights – are 'Western'."

Mary Robinson argues that the events of the Arab Spring show that people everywhere yearn to be free, and that justice and respect for fundamental human rights are universal values.

Mary Robinson writes from Seoul about meeting young refugees who fled North Korea to escape the terrible famine and food shortages. She describes the lack of basic food and healthcare the Elders witnessed during their visit to North Korea, and criticises the government's failure to prioritise the welfare of its own people.

After the Elders' visit to Jerusalem, Mary Robinson argues that the severe hardships affecting the city's Palestinian residents makes an overall solution to the conflict less likely.

Mary Robinson argues that the continued isolation of Gaza is immoral, inhumane and completely counterproductive.