I want to take human rights out of their box. I want to show the relevance of the universal principles of human rights to the basic needs of health, security, education and equality.

Feel empowered. And if you start to do it, if you start to feel your voice heard, you will never go back.

All countries are particular and no models are perfect.

I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system.

It is a time when Irish women can link - as they are linking - through networks. They can do this through having an outward-looking attitude to what's happening to women in other countries, and by being affected by a broader debate.

The UN may not be very effective but I am a fan of the idea of the United Nations. I have been there, I know the problems. To parody Winston Churchill: It is the worst system, except we don't have any other.

Climate change is the greatest threat to human rights in the 21st century.