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IDEAS2000

U.S. Disability
Rights Leader Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Ireland

Lex Frieden was awarded an honorary doctorate in
laws (LL.D.) by the National University of Ireland (NUI) at a conferring
ceremony in Galway, Ireland on June 25, 2004. Degrees were also conferred upon
Professors Roy Foster, Philippe Kirsch and John Mannion.

NUI Galway is renowned for its research centers of excellence in the areas
of human rights and humanities. The honorees were carefully considered and
selected for conferring because of their significant contributions to society
in the area of human rights or through their scholarly contributions to the
area of humanities.

In recognizing the accomplishments and contributions that each individual
has made to society during their lifetime, The President of NUI Galway, Dr
Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh said:

"Each of these individuals in their own way, has made a significant
contribution to society and to altering and enhancing the lives of many.
This has been achieved through their work, views, beliefs and unfaltering
commitment which has enabled them to achieve personal objectives which have
been for the benefit of others. NUI Galway is a university which has long
supported ideals which promote research excellence, both in the areas of
Human Rights and Historical studies and for this reason, we are proud today
to honor the work of all of these individuals."

Lex Frieden, Chairperson of the US National Council on Disability and
senior vice-president at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR)
in Houston, Texas, was instrumental in drafting the 1990 Americans with
Disabilities Act and he is now at the forefront of the new United Nations
treaty on the rights of persons with disabilities. Roy Foster is Carroll
Professor of Irish history at Oxford University and has a highly distinguished
record in historical scholarship.
Judge Philippe Kirsch is the first
president of the International Criminal Court. Established in 2003, the
creation of the International Criminal Court is perhaps the most important new
international organization to be established since the United Nations. John
Mannion of St. John's Memorial University, Newfoundland, has made it his
life's work to document and study all aspects of the Irish migration to
Newfoundland.

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