In the context of changes underway in the Middle East & North Africa, there is understandably a focus on the human rights conduct of governments in the region.  However the private sector plays an increasingly influential role.  This ground-breaking event shone a light on ways in which companies in the region are impacting human rights and the environment.

The event was the third in the Mary Robinson Speaker Series on Business & Human Rights, hosted annually in New York City by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.

Featured speakers were Mohamed Nagi, Director of the Habi Center for Environmental Rights in Cairo, and Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director, Middle East & North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch.  They were introduced by Mary Robinson.  The Resource Centre's Middle East Researchers Rania Fazah and Sa'eda Al-Kilani also made remarks.

Full footage of the event on You Tube (9 short videos)
(see direct links to individual segments below)

Part 1: Welcome by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre board chair Chris Marsden; remarks by Resource Centre Director Christopher Avery and Research Director Greg Regaignon.

Part 2: Remarks by Sa'eda Al-Kilani, Middle East & North Africa Researcher, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (based in Amman).  Introduced by Resource Centre Program Director Annabel Short.

Part 3: Remarks by Rania Fazah, Middle East Researcher, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (based in Beirut).  Introduced by Resource Centre Deputy Director Mauricio Lazala.

Part 4: Introduction of the featured speakers by Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice; and Chair of the Resource Centre's International Advisory Network.

Part 5: Presentation by Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director, Middle East & North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch.

Part 6: Presentation by Mohamed Nagi, Director of Habi Center for Environmental Rights, Cairo.

Parts 7, 8 and 9: Q & A with the audience.