Mrs Robinson said that despite the existence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for nearly 65 years, ‘it is not read and understood at the grassroots level’.

‘Access to water and freedom from violence’ was how rights were commonly understood at the community level, she said.

During her term as the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Robinson went to extraordinary lengths to have the Declaration translated into many of the world’s languages to ensure greater accessibility.

During her address to YWCA delegates from over 100 countries, she outlined her hope that the 65th anniversary of the Declaration on December 10, 2007 could be an opportunity to make human rights better known.

‘Without concerted citizen action, human rights would not be known close to home’, Robinson said.
Mrs Robinson said that the YWCA is ‘a wonderful organisation to help make human rights an ally of those who need that support and friendship’.

She spoke as part of a two day meeting of the World YWCA’s 107 affiliated associations, which adopted a revised constitution for the global movement that has been working to empower women and girls for more than 150 years.

Mrs Robinson praised the World YWCA’s efforts to renew itself and its constitution to make it relevant to the 21st century, saying that ‘it is part of the ability of an organisation that has a long reputation to be able to overhaul’.