Former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, visited the Florida State University College of Law this afternoon to discuss the rule of law in international human rights.
She started by expressing her sadness about the current state of the United States.
“I actually feel saddened and dismayed to be giving this lecture at a time when the United States, which used to champion the rule of law, is undermining it both domestically and internationally,” Robinson said.
She continued by establishing a basic knowledge of the rule of law and that the world, as a whole, is in a “rule of law regression”.
According to the United States Courts, “Rule of Law” is a principle under which all persons, institutions and entities are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated and equally enforced.
“I hope my reflections will help to make the case that despite this perilous moment, we shouldn’t underestimate the enduring mode power of good governance norms or their importance in meeting urgent challenges,” Robinson states as she begins to dissect the current political and social climate the world is currently under. “… we shouldn’t ignore or forget the histories of countries…who made significant progress in fostering societies were individuals and communities are able to live in larger freedom.”
Robinson addressed crucial issues within many major governments, the United States being a key factor; she focused on the technological advancements created in the 21st century, the false promises they provide and the oligarchs that contribute to them.
She stated that as a society, many of the tools being cut on the citizens of many nations promote, “misinformation and disinformation, and are helping fuel extremism and aborizization.”
She then went on to say that the most threatening undermining of the domestic rule of law was a move made by President Donald Trump, who appointed a tech billionaire, Elon Musk, as a member of his staff.
The importance of Rule of Law was mentioned, and Robinson explained that without it being solidified and enforced, government officials would not be bound by the standards of conduct, which can lead to dictatorships, authoritarian societies and unequal societal environments.
“Without the Rule of Law, particularly the equality of all people wouldn’t be around, and their ability to seek progress or grievances and fulfillment of societal commitments would be limited,” Robinson said.
She went on to address the United States government’s previous issues with backsliding and the disregard for these issues by prominent political figures. She explained that in May 2002, the United States government withdrew from any legal obligations to the International Criminal Court(ICC) by “unsigning” the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court in the first place.
This move, led by the Bush administration, reflected concerns over potential ICC prosecutions of U.S. military personnel and government officials for actions abroad. The administration argued that such jurisdiction could undermine U.S. sovereignty and expose Americans to politically motivated prosecutions, setting a precedent that continues to shape the nation’s relationship with the ICC.
“It signaled that the country, which had played such a central leadership role in the development of institutions to maintain the peace and security following the Second World War, was now moving in a different direction,” Robinson said.
According to Robinson, this devolution continued in 2003, with the decision by the United States and its allies to invade Iraq.
“…I stressed the war in Iraq… would only serve to reinforce the skepticism of those who view international law as commitments that are routine in [governments] or selectively implemented to benefit the strong…,” she said.
Robinson views many governments as ruling in their own interest rather than by law and the importance of international standards. She then mentioned President Trump again and his efforts to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal as blurring the lines of international rule of law.
A significant topic brought up in her lecture, as well as the Q&A portion, was her views on the war in Gaza. Robinson regarded the Israeli governments’ response to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and the taking of hostages by Hamas as disproportionate.
“As we are all aware, the scale of human suffering is intolerable and the death toll has reached shocking levels of over 47,000 Palestinians now reportedly killed by Israeli forces,’ she said.
Robinson criticized the hypocrisy of the world in turning a blind eye to the war, stating, “ We can’t become numb to such unacceptable injustice and turn away from all those in Israel and Palestine yearning for peace. In her Q&A portion, she applauded Ireland and expressed her adoration of the country for recognizing the Palestinian people for their loss in the conflict.
As Robinson regards us as being on the brink of lawlessness, she provided essential ways that she believed would open up the floor for the Rule of law to be restored.
According to Robinson, we should renew our shared commitment to the internationally agreed upon “plan” already in place to create a more peaceful world, fortifying the notion of the Rule of Law to gain public trust again.
Her next idea dealt with reaffirming the Rule of Law as essential in addressing complex, transnational challenges blocking efforts to attain sustainable development. She stated that stronger accountability mechanisms are needed to hold perpetrators accountable and to support the recovery of the environment and communities affected.
Her third point emphasized that adhering to the Rule of law and holding those in defiance of it liable, is not solely dependent on government accountability, but in all of society.
“We should acknowledge the important efforts that have been made to address these problems, including agreement of international frameworks…,” she said.
Emphasizing large business owners’ role in the Rule of Law was crucial to Robinson.
“… business leaders around the world should recognize their power to serve as influential advocates for social change… while some leaders are trying to help, too much power continues to be exercised by a relatively small number of autocratic and largely male leaders of countries as well as heads of major companies,” said Robinson.
Robinson ended with the need to foster a connection between all striving for a better world. She introduced a project she is co-founder of, Project Dandelion, as a women-led climate justice movement. Inspired by the resilience of the dandelion plant, the initiative seeks to unite diverse groups such as Indigenous communities, local activists, youth and progressive leaders with a shared vision for climate action.
Robinson highlighted the project’s focus on addressing five key injustices: the disproportionate impact on the poorest nations and Indigenous peoples, gender inequality, intergenerational harm, unequal development opportunities and the degradation of nature. Through Project Dandelion, she calls for inclusive, collective efforts to create a sustainable and equitable future.