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

April 07, 2005

The 2005 Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue was presented to Mary Robinson for outstanding courage, leadership and commitment to dialogue. Mary Robinson is one of the world’s leading advocates for human rights, having served as the President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner on Human Rights. Honoured throughout the world for her vision and leadership, Mary Robinson now leads Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, which promotes human rights and supports good governance in Africa’s developing countries.

"Mary Robinson demonstrates a deep commitment to building solutions to world problems through dialogue. She has set a standard to which we can all aspire."

    Michael Stevenson, SFU President

About Mary

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.

Events

  • April 07, 2005

    April 07, 2005

    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.

Women Industry Leaders Breakfast
April 8, 2005

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.

Award Ceremony and The Power of Dialogue
April 8, 2005

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. 

Select Media & Commentary

ABOUT THE JACK P. BLANEY AWARD FOR DIALOGUE

The Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue is presented to an individual who exemplifies, internationally, the spirit and programs of SFU's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Recipients of the award have demonstrated excellence and accomplishments in using dialogue to further complex issues of public importance.