The launch of the Mary Robinson Speaker Series on Business & Human Rights took place on 26 October 2010 in New York City. The series is hosted by the non-profit Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Full video footage of the event is now available.

Each year the speaker series will spotlight emerging issues in the field of business & human rights. It will move forward the debate, by bringing together people from the business, investment, human rights and environmental communities. And it will continue to recognise the pioneering role in this field played by Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

An audience of almost 300 attended the inaugural event at Rockefeller University. Following introductory remarks by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre representatives Chris Marsden (Chair) and Chris Avery (Director), three leaders in the field paid personal tributes to Mary Robinson:

• John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on business & human rights


• Lucas Benitez, Co-Director, Coalition for Immokalee Workers


• Alexandra Guáqueta, Head of Social Standards & Intl. Engagement, Cerrejón Coal (Colombia)

Mary Robinson gave the keynote speech. She opened by tracing her commitment to human rights back to growing up as the only girl "wedged between four brothers" in the West of Ireland, and to observing her father's work as a doctor. "I gradually appreciated the enormous time he gave. The enormous sense he had of the dignity of each person, and the need to really listen."

She shared her four "core beliefs" with the audience. These are: that the law can be an instrument of social change; the principle of inclusion and giving voice to the marginalised; the need for effective, accountable institutions at all levels of governance; and the importance of leadership.

Robinson then gave an overview of efforts to encourage business to respect human rights. While significant progress has been made, she said that we "still haven't moved markers sufficiently or made corporate responsibility for human rights, or for the triple bottom line more generally, a part of mainstream business practice around the world."

In the final segment of the event, PBS NewsHour Senior Correspondent Ray Suarez interviewed Mary Robinson, and there were questions from the audience.

Direct links to sections of the event videos:

• Part 1: Welcome - Chris Marsden, Chair, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre


• Part 2: Images of victims & positive initiatives to set the scene - Chris Avery, Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre


• Part 4: Introduction of Mary Robinson by John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on business & human rights


• Part 5: Introduction of Mary Robinson by Lucas Benitez, Co-Director, Coalition of Immokalee Workers


• Part 6: Introduction of Mary Robinson by Alexandra Guáqueta, Head of Social Standards & International Engagement, Cerrejón Coal (Colombia)


• Part 7: Presentation by Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland (continued in parts 8, 9)


• Part 10: Mary Robinson interviewed by Ray Suarez, PBS NewsHour Senior Correspondent (continued in parts 11, 12)


• Part 13: Q&A (continued in part 14)


• Part 15: Closing - Chris Marsden, Chair, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

The Resource Centre is an independent non-profit that promotes greater awareness and informed debate about human rights issues relating to business. Our website is updated hourly with news and reports about companies’ social and environmental impacts worldwide, including alleged abuses, positive steps, and company responses to concerns raised about their conduct. The site has sections on over 4000 companies. It also includes special resources such as all materials issued by the UN Special Representative on business & human rights; a list of companies with human rights policies; profiles of lawsuits against companies. Mary Robinson is Chair of our International Advisory Network. Visit the website for further details and to sign up for free Weekly Updates. See website for contact details of our New York office and team members in Hong Kong, India, South Africa, UK, Ukraine, USA

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