Human Rights in Context

With Susi Bascon, Director of Peace Brigades International (PBI) UK, and from Simmons and Simmons, Victoria Channing, Pro Bono Manager and Chris Owen, who heads up the firm’s business and human rights team and is one of the Partners responsible for pro bono.

PBI UK is a world-leading NGO working to protect human rights defenders and provide life-saving support in some of the world's most dangerous countries.  https://peacebrigades.org.uk/

Simmons and Simmons is an international law firm with expertise in multiple areas including business and human rights. https://www.simmons-simmons.com/

In this episode, we hear the second part of the interview with leading NGO Peace Brigades International UK and international law firm Simmons and Simmons, in which we discuss pro bono relationships between human rights organisations and lawyers. In particular we discuss how these partnerships can work to benefit human rights.

Links from the episode:

• PBI Alliance for Lawyers at Risk, pro-bono network
• Simmons and Simmons, pro bono work

Pro Bono clearing houses:

• Trust Law
• A4ID (Advocates for International Development)

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With Susi Bascon, Director of Peace Brigades International (PBI) UK, and from Simmons and Simmons, Victoria Channing, Pro Bono Manager and Chris Owen, who heads up the firm’s business and human rights team and is one of the Partners responsible for pro bono.

PBI UK is a world-leading NGO working to protect human rights defenders and provide life-saving support in some of the world's most dangerous countries.  https://peacebrigades.org.uk/

Simmons and Simmons is an international law firm with expertise in multiple areas including business and human rights. https://www.simmons-simmons.com/

This episode examines the toolbox developed by Simmons and Simmons on behalf of Peace Brigades International for defenders working on business and human rights. We examine the duties for companies to respect human rights and explore the Toolbox that builds on the obligations of companies to respect human rights, as set out in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

Links from the episode:

• PBI introduction to the Toolbox
• Human Rights Defenders' Toolbox
• UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

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With Anna Rottenecker

Anna Rottenecker is a specialist for fundraising and institutional development with more than 10 years of experience in the field. Anna works to build a world of vibrant and robust civil societies who uphold the rule of law for all and at all times.

This episode discusses the UN Sustainable Development Goals and particularly SDG 16 that seeks to achieve peace, justice and strong institutions, which is the focus of Anna's work. We also discuss fundraising for human rights projects. Anna recalls that most human rights organisations don't like to talk about money. We explore this obstacle and I ask how organisations can seek funding from different donors to enable their future success.

We also discuss how to build wider support for human rights work and I ask Anna to offer advice for organisations to help mitigate the risk of future uncertainties.

 Contact information for Anna Rottenecker:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarottenecker/
• Rottenecker Consulting: https://rottenecker.org/
• Email: [email protected]

 Links from the episode:

• UN Sustainable development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals 

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With Dr Matthew Pringle.

In 2018, Matti established the Canada OPCAT Project and is now working with civil society  towards the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture to prevent abuse in care homes, prisons and other places where people are deprived of liberty in Canada.

Matti is a human rights specialist who has been active in the field for over 21 years. Matti’s deep interest in torture prevention originates in the decade or so he spent working for the Association for the Prevention of Torture in Geneva, Switzerland. During this time he worked intensively on the ratification and implementation of the OPCAT in at least a couple of dozen countries.

In the episode we discuss the OPCAT and how it can help countries prevent human rights abuse in places of detetnion. Matti explores the situation in Canada and why it has been slow to fulfil a promise to implement the treaty.

Links from the show:

• Canada OPCAT Project: https://canadaopcatproject.ca/

You can find Matti at: 

• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/matthew-pringle-86a7b1159
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Matthew28333927?s=20 

recommended links:

• Penal Reform International: https://www.penalreform.org/
• Dignity: https://www.dignity.dk/en/
• Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org/en/ 

Support Human Rights, Win a Picasso
To enter the Peace Brigades International UK raffle to win an original Picasso linocut, go to https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/picasso-for-pbi.

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This is the second part of the interview with Vincent Ploton, Director of development and treaty body advocacy at the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) in Geneva, Switzerland.

In this special bonus episode, I ask Vincent how he began his career in human rights and what advice he has for students looking to work in human rights organisations, including intergovernmental organisations like offices of the UN. We look at the true value (and cost) of Internships and explore what students should look for in choosing a Masters degree that will help to find a job in human rights.

Support Human Rights, Win a Picasso
To enter the Peace Brigades International UK raffle to win an original Picasso linocut, go to https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/picasso-for-pbi.

If you enjoyed the show, please help us keep going. Use the link below and buy me a coffee!

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Vincent Ploton is Director of development and treaty body advocacy at the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) in Geneva, Switzerland.

This episode examines the work of human rights defenders, including what they do and how their work can be supported. We also look at how States are limiting the role of defenders, civil society and punishing voices of dissent.

We then explore the role of human rights treaty bodies and ask how these institutions can work more effectively and be reformed to better protect human rights.

Contact information for Vincent Ploton:

Linkedin: https://ch.linkedin.com/in/vincentploton 

Twitter: @vploton

 

Links from the episode:

Open Global Rights blog: https://www.openglobalrights.org/

Pass Blue: https://www.passblue.com/


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Ken Bluestone is Head of Policy and Influencing at Age International, a charity that helps older people living in some of the world's poorest places to have improved wellbeing and be treated with dignity.

This episode looks at the impact Covid-19 has had on older people recognising that the rights of older people are not adequately protected. We discuss the significant UN Policy Brief on ‘The impact of COVID-19 on older persons’ that was published in May and ask how the international community is responding to the consequences of the crisis.

We ask why there is no international convention on the rights of older people and Ken explores why such an instrument is important to further define and protect the rights of older people, and what rights should be included. Ken also gives some helpful examples where there are positive efforts to eliminate age discrimination from around the world.

Finally, we ask what it takes to be an effective human rights advocate.

Contact information for Ken Bluestone:

• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/ken-bluestone 
• Twitter: @AgeBluestone

Links from the episode:

• Age International, www.ageinternational.org.uk 
• Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP), rightsofolderpeople.org
• Help Age International, www.helpage.org 
• Age Platform Europe, www.age-platform.eu

UN Secretary-General’s Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on older persons

See also the response to the UN Policy Brief by Age International here: https://www.ageinternational.org.uk/news-features/news/2020/coronavirus2/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-older-persons/ 

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Sylvia Dias is National Representative and Senior Legal Adviser for the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) in Brazil.

In this episode we explore how to prevent torture and the abuse of particularly vulnerable groups by police in the investigation of crime; custody hearings as an innovation in torture prevention that Sylvia describes as "One of the most effective ways to detect torture in the first hours"; and abuse reported in the first hours of police detention. I also ask Sylvia how torture preventive measures can be coordinated and Sylvia explains how crimes of abuse should be investigated. As a new procedure in Brazil, we examine how effective custody hearings are in preventing abuse by police and what impact Covid-19 has had on the procedure. We also appraise the situation in Brazil now and look to see what positive actions are being taken by families of victims to hold police to account. 

Contact information for Sylvia Dias:

Sylvia Dias, APT National Representative, Senior Legal Adviser, Brazil, [email protected]

Links from the episode:

1. The Association for the Prevention of Torture:

• https://www.apt.ch/en
• https://www.facebook.com/apt.geneva
• https://twitter.com/apt_geneva 

2. The Brazil documentary, 'auto de Hesistencia':

• http://www.autoderesistencia.com.br/police-killing
• https://www.facebook.com/autoderesistencia/

3. APT, Face-to-face custody hearings vital to counter police abuses in Brazil, 20 July 2020, at https://www.apt.ch/en/news_on_prevention/face-face-custody-hearings-vital-counter-police-abuses-brazil

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Marina Schirone, is Director of civil society organisation Mama Africa, based in Bari, Italy. Mama Africa promotes the integration of refugees, immigrants and the community at large into a self-sufficient, healthy and inclusive multi-ethnic society.

Marina moved to the UK in 2018 after working for almost 10 years at one of the biggest "reception" centres in southern Italy, in Bari, as an interpreter, translator and caseworker, where some 30,000 asylum claims were processed during the height of the 'refugee crisis'. As Marina says, "Italy was not prepared for such an emergency."

In our interview, we explore the treatment of asylum claimants who have recently arrived in Italy, having fled across the Mediterranean from Libya; Marina's experience working in the reception centre in Bari; the establishment of Mama Africa, that provides services for people who have recently arrived and explores the commonality between the new arrivals and the local community through various cultural exchanges; and we finish with a discussion of how interpreters and human rights professionals can cope with experiences of trauma told by others.

 Links from the episode:

1. Mama Africa Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mamaafricaitalia

2. Refugee projects in Bari described by Marina:

• https://www.facebook.com/footballacademybari/
• https://www.facebook.com/sportacademybari 

3. 'Fuocoammare' film ('Fire at Sea')

• On Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fire-at-Sea-Samuele-Caruana/dp/B01GP0SCAI
• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3652526/

4. Exodus; Escape from Libya; a blog with a collection of voice messages from people detained in Libya: https://vimeo.com/291491176

5. Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey, written by Margriet Ruurs

• www.steppingstonesthebook.com 
• On Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stepping-Stones-Refugee-Familys-Journey/dp/1459814908

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Dr. Fiona de Hoog is a researcher in Sheffield Hallam University where she conducts research in human rights, gender and modern slavery. In 2017, she completed a PhD at the University of Hull’s Wilberforce Institute on the topic of child slavery in Haiti, establishing the links between the exploitation of children, gender-based violence and female complicity in child trafficking. This cutting-edge research took her to Haiti for 2 years, where she did a large-scale analysis of modern Haitian society, interviewing women involved in the trafficking and enslaving of children as well as mothers, fathers and other key individuals. By focusing on the perpetrators, which were for the most part women, she was able to uncover the root causes of child trafficking which are based in gender inequality and violence in a way that has not been done anywhere else in the world.

Links from the episode:

• Dr Fiona de Hoog's biography: https://theconversation.com/profiles/fiona-de-hoog-cius-667027, or http://en.gravatar.com/fionadehoog
• 'Fee in Haiti', blogsite: https://feeinhaiti.wordpress.com/
• The Conversation [May 2019] - Hundreds of thousands of Haitian children suffer in slavery - in a system perpetuated by women, at https://theconversation.com/hundreds-of-thousands-of-haitian-children-suffer-in-slavery-and-women-play-a-key-role-in-perpetuating-the-system-115398
• Beyond Borders (Haiti) website: https://beyondborders.net/

Book recommendations:

• Momsen, Janet. Gender and development. Routledge, 2019.
• Holmes, Rebecca, and Nicola Jones. Gender and social protection in the developing world: beyond mothers and safety nets. Zed Books Ltd., 2013
• Podur, Justin. Haiti's new dictatorship: The coup, the earthquake and the UN occupation. Pluto Press, 2012.
• Smith, Jennie Marcelle. When the hands are many: Community organization and social change in rural Haiti. Cornell University Press, 2001.

Find all of these books on Amazon


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