hiː sˈɜːvd ɪnðə pəzˈɪʃən ʌv dˈɛpjuːɾi ænd ðˈɛn ˈæktɪŋ jˌuːˈɛn hˈaɪ kəmˈɪʃənɚ fɔːɹ hjˈuːmən ɹˈaɪts tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ, bᵻfˌoːɹ mˈædəm luːwˈiːz ˈɑːɹbɚ, æt ðə lˈɛvəl ʌv ˌʌndɚsˈɛkɹətɹidʒˈɛnɚɹəl, hˌævɪŋ pɹˈiːviəsli wˈɜːkt fɔːɹ mˈɛɹi ɹˈɑːbɪnsən, fˈɔːɹmɚ pɹˈɛzɪdənt ʌv ˈaɪɚlənd, wˌɛn ʃiː sˈʌbsᵻkwəntli bɪkˌeɪm jˌuːˈɛn hˈaɪ kəmˈɪʃənɚ fɔːɹ hjˈuːmən ɹˈaɪts.
He served in the position of Deputy and then Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2003–2004), before Madam Louise Arbour, at the level of Under-Secretary-General, having previously worked for Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, when she subsequently became UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.