SPAIN: Former Irish president Mary Robinson yesterday received Spain's highest award, the Prince of Asturias Prize for Social Sciences, in recognition of her "valuable and committed struggle against discrimination".
The jury praised her "moral fibre, noble values and ethical behaviour".
She received her €50,000 prize and a bronze sculpture by Spanish artist Joan Miró from Prince Felipe, the Prince of Asturias, in a formal ceremony in the Asturian capital of Oviedo. The prince was accompanied by his wife, Princess Letizia, who is expecting their second child and is herself a native of Asturias.
The Asturias prizes are Spain's version of the Nobel prizes. On more than one occasion over the past 26 years the same person has been honoured by both organisations. This year's Nobel Peace laureate Mohammed Yunus won the Asturias Prize three years ago for his microcredit scheme to help needy women set up their own businesses.
The International Co-operation Prize went to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their work to eradicate malaria. The Microsoft founder was unable to attend but was represented by his father. Bill Gates promised to visit Spain next month.
The prize for arts was given to Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar, who arrived with Spanish actress Penélope Cruz. The award for literature went to American writer Paul Auster.
The National Geographic Society was rewarded for work in communications and humanities. The Spanish basketball team got the loudest applause when receiving the sports prize for winning the World Bastketball Championships in Japan.
Mrs Robinson referred to the similarities between the northern Spanish region of Asturias and Ireland, not only in the similarity of their scenery and the dramatic economic developments both countries have enjoyed, but in the problems of regional violence both have suffered.
She said: "We both have and continue to address the ongoing challenges of historic conflicts through negotiated peace processes." She expressed her concern for the growing problems of illegal immigration, which she called "the human face of globalisation . . . the 21st century's version of slavery through human trafficking networks".
She said: "In Spain you have been confronted with the painful reality of people risking their lives on open seas to arrive on your shores."
She ended her address with a mention of Irish writer Ian Gibson, whose latest book is a biography of Spanish poet Antonio Machado, who was forced into exile and died during the Spanish Civil War.
"As we face the challenge of migration we should remember that we, like those who arrive on our shores, are all children of the sea."