Mary Robinson: Executive director of the New York-based Realising Rights: The Ethical Globalisation Initiative, which focuses on poverty and development from a human rights perspective.
Lobbies governments and organisations on issues such as sugar and cotton subsidies, which are seen as putting the Third World at a disadvantage. Also honorary president of Oxfam International and a part-time professor at Columbia University in New York, specialising in human rights and globalisation.
Jimmy Carter: Since leaving the White House in 1981, has been involved in human rights, democracy and conflict resolution through the Carter Centre in Atlanta, which he founded. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Mikhail Gorbachev: Since the Soviet Union's collapse, has founded Green Cross International to lobby on environmental issues, and the Gorbachev Foundation, to promote democracy; has written several books; starred in a Pizza Hut commercial and run unsuccessfully for the Russian presidency, receiving only 1 per cent of the vote.
Benazir Bhutto: Technically banned from serving a third term as Pakistan's prime minister, the first woman to lead a Muslim country in modern times now lives in forced exile, bi-locating between Dubai and London. Her husband Asif Ali Zardari has been released from prison after eight years. Still has loyal following in Pakistan.