Her seven year Presidency ended in 1997 when she took up the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. As President, Robinson had been closely involved with development and human rights issues. She visited Somalia in 1992 and brought the Somali's experience to the world's attention - she was clearly moved when, at a press conference, she described what she'd seen.

 I found that when I was there in … Baidoa, and Afgoye and Mogadishu, and this morning in Mandera, that I had no difficulty in remaining calm and in not letting my emotions show. And I am sorry that I cannot be entirely calm speaking to you because I have such a sense of what the world must take responsibility for.