Mary Robinson’s unwillingness to help Latifa raises questions about how much was she paid for participating in this Dubai government propaganda and about her role in supporting Latifa’s abductors.
Mary Robinson is an Irish politician who was the first woman to become president of the Republic of Ireland. She has also served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002. Robinson is known for her continuous work in promoting human rights and in 2004 she received Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for her work in promoting human rights.
She is currently the chairman of the Institute for Human Rights and Business and Chancellor of the University of Dubai although her main focus appears to be on climate justice work through The Mary Robinson Foundation.
Mary Robinson – A willing pawn?
On December 24th2018 Mary Robinson was photographed sitting next to Princess Latifa during a lunch arranged by Latifa’s stepmother Princess Haya. In the photos released Mary Robinson is smiling and Princess Latifa doesn’t look anything but uncomfortable and shaken.
Mrs Robinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on 27thDecember that she had been invited by Princess Haya, wife of Dubai’s ruler, to “help with a family dilemma”.
“The dilemma was that Latifa is vulnerable, she’s troubled. She made a video that she now regrets and she planned an escape, or what was part of a plan of escape,” Mrs Robinson said. “I had lunch with her. She’s a very likeable young woman but clearly troubled, clearly needs the medical care that she is receiving.”
Mrs Robinson said the princess was suffering from “a serious medical situation” and receiving psychiatric care, but did not give further details. She said her family didn’t want her to “endure any more publicity”
Mary Robinson’s action of backing the Dubai version of events has been met by anger and disgust by the human rights groups and the international community. This has damaged her reputation as a public figure who has been seen to devote her life for human rights, and especially, women’s rights. This begs a question why anyone with such an impressive background and knowledge of the United Nations Human rights protocols in case of enforced disappearances, makes a personal visit, especially as Latifa’s plight for freedom had been widely reported in media before Robinson’s visit.