2005: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Right to Health with Mary Robinson

As Ireland’s first woman president, Mary Robinson famously put a symbolic light in her kitchen window, an old Irish custom to guide the way of strangers. It was her way of remembering millions of Irish emigrants, but it also symbolizes her personal international diplomacy, whether a courtesy meeting with a Sinn Féin MP or state visits to Rwanda and Somalia that brought world attention to the suffering in those countries.  

Outstanding courage, leadership and commitment to dialogue characterized Mary Robinson’s Presidency of Ireland. Her work as UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and as Executive Director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI) successfully challenged nations to see—and act on—the human face of HIV/Aids and other serious human rights concerns. 

Through the Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue we recognize Mary Robinson’s significant contributions to public dialogue on such urgent and complex social concerns.

April 7, 2005
Corporate Social Responsibility and the Right to Health
A dialogue that convened 125 participants at Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Respondents examined the contours of the right to health landscape from a variety of viewpoints and participants revealed a renewed sense of purpose and energy in tackling the issues of human rights and the conditions necessary for health.

April 8, 2005
Women Industry Leaders Breakfast
A roundtable with forty prominent business women to discuss the corporate world’s role in dealing with global health issues at an Ernst & Young-sponsored Women Industry Leaders Breakfast. 

April 8, 2005
Award Ceremony and The Power of Dialogue 
More than 350 guests filled the Park Ballroom at The Four Seasons to see Mary Robinson receive the Jack P. Blaney Blaney Award for Dialogue and hear her speak on the power of dialogue to help citizens, business people and government officials understand their role in promoting human rights.