Editing Mary Robinson (section)

=== U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom ===
[[File:Mary Robinson recieves the Presidential Medal of Freedom 2009 (cropped).png|thumb|Robinson receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from [[Barack Obama]]]]
In 2009, she was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the highest civilian honour awarded by the US.<ref name="whitgo" /><ref name="irit45" /> In presenting the award, President Obama said "As a crusader for women and those without a voice in Ireland, Mary Robinson was the first woman elected President of Ireland, before being appointed U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. [...] Today, as an advocate for the hungry and the hunted, the forgotten and the ignored, Mary Robinson has not only shone a light on human suffering, but illuminated a better future for our world."<ref name="whitgo3" /> Amnesty International congratulated Robinson on being named recipient.<ref name="amnes" />

The award was criticised by American and European Jewish groups, while others offered support. Parties opposed included the [[AIPAC]], [[Anti-Defamation League]], European Jewish Congress, and [[John Bolton]], former US Ambassador to the UN.<ref name="JPRob" /> Bolton stated that those in the administration who recommended her either ignored her anti-Israel history, or missed it entirely.<ref name="wsjco" /> On the other hand, a group of Israeli human rights organisations stated "as leaders of a sector within Israeli civil society that monitors and often criticizes government and military policy for violating human rights, we do not see such actions as plausible reason for denying Mrs. Robinson the award."<ref name="JPRob" /> In response to the protests by some Jewish groups and commentators, Robinson said she was "surprised and dismayed" and that "this is old, recycled, untrue stuff," "I have been very critical of the Palestinian side. My conduct continues to be on the side of tackling anti-Semitism and discrimination."<ref name="nyt56" /> "There's a lot of bullying by certain elements of the Jewish community. They bully people who try to address the severe situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Archbishop Desmond Tutu gets the same criticism."<ref name="Bt554" /> In an open letter to Robinson, [[Hillel Neuer]], a director of [[UN Watch]], rejected Robinson's claim of being misunderstood or bullied by those who criticise her role in Durban. He said that she failed to confront purveyors of anti-Israel rhetoric. "You may not have been the chief culprit of the [[World Conference against Racism 2001|Durban]] debacle, but you will always be its preeminent symbol", he added.<ref name="JPRob" /> When asked about the opposition, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs replied "Mary Robinson was the first female President of Ireland, and she is somebody whom we are honouring as a prominent crusader of women's rights in Ireland and throughout the world."<ref name="witgo7" />

US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi,<ref name="speak" /> Senate Assistant Majority Leader, [[Dick Durbin]],<ref name="durbin" /> and other legislators<ref name="mcmah" /> welcomed the award to Robinson."<ref name="scribd" /> Forty-five Republican Congressmen sent a letter to President Obama citing "her failed, biased record as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights".<ref name="JPRob" /> In a letter to President Obama, [[Nancy Rubin]], a former [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council|US ambassador to the UN Human Rights Commission]], praised Robinson as a "dedicated crusader for human rights for all people".<ref name="reali" /> [[Oxfam]] expressed its strong support for Robinson.<ref name="jtaor" /><ref name="oxfam0" /> The Council of Women World Leaders,<ref name="cwwl2" /> the Champalimaud Foundation,<ref name="champ" /> and the [[ImagineNations Group]]<ref name="busi5" /> welcomed the award to Robinson.

The [[International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission]] congratulated Robinson, saying she "helped advance recognition of the human rights of LGBT people in her capacity as President of Ireland and as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She has been unwavering in her passionate call to end torture, persecution, and discrimination against LGBT people globally."<ref name="iglhrc" />