Human Rights Survival Guide
By IPHR
International Partnership for Human Rights presents the Human Rights Survival Guide - a series of podcasts aimed at tackling these questions. The IPHR team will interview experts, HRDs, journalists and civic activists to discuss how you, your local NGO, your state can use existing human rights instruments and principles to empower, to protect, and to bring perpetrators to justice.
Human Rights Survival GuideAug 24, 2020
How to survive in hell: Belarusian prison reality guide (part 3)
One moment you stand up for your people's right to democracy and freedom, the next you are sentenced to 15 days of detention. Unimaginable? Not in Belarus.
This is the story of a woman who lived through that experience twice, and wrote a survival guide to Belarusian prison. In this third episode, you'll hear advice on how to stay relatively sane during detention.
The third episode covers 15 days of detention: psychological hygiene, organisation of everyday life, rituals and pastimes, and liberation.
If you want to learn more about the Belarusian struggle for freedom, you might find Aliaksei Paluyan's 2021 documentary 'Courage' and Krzysztof Lukaszewicz's 2013 drama 'Viva Belarus' interesting.
Find out how you can support and express solidarity:
Write a letter to a political prisoner: https://spring96.org/en/news/101367DissidentBY: https://dissidentby.com/en, a non-profit initiative supporting political prisoners.BY_help: https://www.belarus97.pro/eng, a civic campaign supporting dissidents and their families.Politvyazynka: https://m.facebook.com/100085144390317/ https://instagram.com/politvyazynka?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=, an activist's project highlighting female political prisoners.
Learn more about the Akrestsina pre-trial detention centre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okrestina
To not miss out on the other survival guide chapters, subscribe to our podcast and automatically get the next episodes in your feed.
How to survive in hell: Belarusian prison reality guide (part 2)
One moment you’re standing up for freedom and democracy, the next you’re sentenced to 15 days’ detention. Unimaginable? Not in Belarus.
This is the story of a woman who lived through that experience twice and transformed it into a guide to surviving Belarusian prison.
This is the second episode of the mini-series, covering arrest and trial.
If you want to learn more about Belarus’ struggle for freedom, you may enjoy Aliaksei Paluyan's 2021 documentary 'Courage' and Krzysztof Lukaszewicz's 2013 drama 'Viva Belarus'.
Also, read the today's statement by international and Belarusian rights groups calling to end the ill-treatment of Maria Kalesnikava and all the other political prisoners: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/12/belarus-stop-ill-treatment-opposition-politician
Want to support the cause and express your solidarity? Here are some ways you can do that:
Write a letter to a political prisoner: https://spring96.org/en/news/101367
DissidentBY: https://dissidentby.com/en, a non-profit initiative supporting political prisoners.
BY_help: https://www.belarus97.pro/eng, a civic campaign supporting dissidents and their families.
Politvyazynka: https://m.facebook.com/100085144390317/ and https://www.instagram.com/politvyazynka/, an activist project highlighting female political prisoners.
Learn more about the Akrestsina pre-trial detention centre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okrestina
Belarusians singing ‘Peremen’ by Kino, which became the anthem of the democratic opposition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMdrQvQRFzM
To avoid missing out on the remaining survival guide chapters, subscribe to our podcast and automatically have new episodes appear in your feed.
How to survive in hell: Belarusian prison reality guide (part 1)
One moment you’re standing up for freedom and democracy, the next you’re sentenced to 15 days’ detention. Unimaginable? Not in Belarus.
This is the story of a woman who lived through that experience twice and used that experience to write a guide to surviving Belarusian prison. In this first episode, you'll hear how to prepare for detention because, sadly, in Belarus, ordinary citizens can become political prisoners at any given moment.
If you want to learn more about Belarus’ struggle for freedom, you may enjoy Aliaksei Paluyan's 2021 documentary 'Courage' and Krzysztof Lukaszewicz's 2013 drama 'Viva Belarus'.
Here are some ways you can support the cause and express your solidarity:
Write a letter to a political prisoner: https://spring96.org/en/news/101367
DissidentBY: https://dissidentby.com/en, a non-profit initiative supporting political prisoners.
BY_help: https://www.belarus97.pro/eng, a civic campaign supporting dissidents and their families.
Politvyazynka: https://m.facebook.com/100085144390317/ and https://www.instagram.com/politvyazynka/, an activist project highlighting female political prisoners.
Learn more about the Akrestsina pre-trial detention centre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okrestina
To avoid missing out on the remaining survival guide chapters, subscribe to our podcast and automatically have new episodes appear in your feed.
Public funds with limited responsibility: IFIs and human rights due diligence
How do international financial institutions (IFIs) conduct due diligence on projects they finance? In this episode we will try to answer this question together with Xavier Sol - Director of Counter Balance, and Manana Kochladze - Chairwoman of Georgian NGO "Green Alternative" and Regional Coordinator for the Caucasus at CEE Bankwatch. In particular, we will look at the human rights role in IFIs' due diligence process and discuss the identification, monitoring, and assessment of projects' risks and impacts. We will look specifically at the European Investment Bank (EIB) - "the lending arm of the EU". On 1 February, the EIB will hold its annual seminar between civil society and the EIB’s Board of Directors, with a thematic discussion on “strengthening the EIB’s sustainability framework.”
Looking through UN lens: situation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang (part 2)
This is the second episode in our series on the situation of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. This time we focus on legal aspects and international mechanisms surrounding the issue. Our guest is Fernand de Varennes - Extraordinary Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pretoria (South Africa), Adjunct Professor at the National University of Ireland-Galway (Ireland), and Cheng Yu Tung Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong (China). Since August 2017 Fernand de Varennes has been serving as United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues.
The first episode of the series is devoted to the history of Uyghurs, China’s minority policy and relations with its Central Asian neighbors. It is available here.
Tragedy of the 'new old land': situation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang (part 1)
The word “Uyghur” has gained popularity in human rights recently, and so has the fight for its people’s liberation from what is considered to be the biggest crime against humanity of our century. Numbers vary, but it is estimated that over one million people have been sent to internment camps in the Xinjiang since 2017.
In today’s episode we will be focusing on the history of Uyghurs, China’s minority policy and relations with its Central Asian neighbors.
Our distinguished guest is Dr. Dru C. Gladney, Professor and Chair of Anthropology at Pomona College, California.
This is the first episode in our series on the situation of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.
Работа над ошибками: система ювенальной юстиции в Казахстане
На этот раз тема эпизода – ювенальная юстиция в Казахстане. В гостях подкаста Гульжахан Абдулаева – детский врач, реаниматолог, анестезиолог в Научном центре педиатрии и хирургии, а также член национального превентивного механизма по городу Алматы и Алматинской области, и Эльвира Ватлина – директор Детского Фонда Казахстана, вице-президент международной ассоциации детских фондов и член национальной коалиции против пыток. Мы говорим о системе ювенальной юстиции с юридической, медицинской и правозащитной точки зрения, а также делимся рекомендациями для правительства Казахстана и международного сообщества.
Сегодняшний эпизод – это вторая часть выпуска о ювенальной юстиции. Первую часть (на английском) можно прослушать здесь: https://anchor.fm/human-rights-survival-guide/episodes/Working-towards-the-future-legal-protection-of-minors-across-societies-and-jurisdictions-e157ofn
Working towards future: legal protection of minors across societies and jurisdictions
The next two episodes of our podcast are devoted to juvenile justice.
In this episode we focus on the international dimension of juvenile justice and main challenges surrounding the topic.
Our guest is Frances Sheahan - a lawyer and a child rights expert with more that 17 years experience working on children’s rights law, policy and programming.
Together we will discuss the main the international legal standards within the juvenile justice and identify the key steps that can ensure a transition towards child-friendly justice systems around the world.
Громкое молчание: разрушительное воздействие пыток на жертв и членов их семей
Сегодня по всему миру отмечается Международный день в поддержку жертв пыток. В этом эпизоде подкаста мы беседуем с Гулчехрой Холматовой - Директором Общественной организации "Мир права" и Руководителем группы правовой помощи Коалиции гражданского общества против пыток и безнаказанности в Таджикистане, о ситуации в Таджикистане в контексте противодействия пыткам и жестокому обращению, о работе с семьями жертв пыток и о том, как помочь себе и своим близким пережить столкновение с пытками и помочь восстановить справедливость.
Georgia v. Russia: Does the ECHR protect in times of war?
In this episode we reflect on legal aspects of the European Court judgment in the case of Georgia v. Russia II. Our distinguished guests are Philip Leach, a Professor of Human Rights Law at Middlesex University, a solicitor, and Director of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC); and Vanessa Kogan, a Director of Stichting Justice Initiative - an organisation dedicated to the legal protection of victims of human rights violations connected to armed conflict and counter-terrorism operations, torture and gender-based violence in the post-Soviet region.
The judgment in the cases of Georgia v Russia (II) that has steered controversy, has been delivered by the European Court on 21 January of this year. It concerns human rights violations committed in 2008 in the context of an armed conflict between Georgia and Russia, which resulted in at least 400 civilian deaths, large scale destruction of civilian property and displacement of over 20.000 ethnic Georgians from South Ossetia. Systemic human rights violations continued long after the cessation of hostilities.
The most controversial aspect of it concerns the Court's refusal to extend Convention protection to events that occurred during the active phase of hostilities, from 8 to 12 August.
Human rights and environment: tying the knot
In the third episode of our accountability series Richard J Rodgers, International Lawyer and Partner at Global Diligence LLP and Noa Roque, Legal Officer at IPHR discuss the relationships between human rights and environment through the lens of environmental justice, climate justice and climate litigation.
They explore how can the law be used to enhance the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, how effective current instruments are in practice and what role does civil society play in environmental and climate justice.
Please check out previous two episodes in the accountability series:
Universal jurisdiction: myths and realities https://anchor.fm/human-rights-survival-guide/episodes/Universal-jurisdiction-myths-and-realities-enltn3
Targeted sanctions: Everything you wanted to know about GMA but were afraid to ask https://anchor.fm/human-rights-survival-guide/episodes/Targeted-sanctions-Everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-GMA-but-were-afraid-to-ask-eltlb3
Universal jurisdiction: myths and realities
What is universal jurisdiction (UJ) and why it is increasingly discussed in human rights circles and among international stakeholders recently?
What is hidden behind the overhyped UJ concept, how did it emerge, what's the scope of it and how could it evolve in the years to come?
In the second episode of our "accountability series" Alexandre Prezanti, International Lawyer and Partner at Global Diligence LLP and Simon Papuashvili, Programme Director at IPHR discuss these questions and spice them up with examples, which will motivate you to learn more and who knows, maybe even litigate a UJ case.
Targeted sanctions: Everything you wanted to know about GMA but were afraid to ask
- Who was Sergey Magnitsky and why are sanctions named after him?
- How are Magnitsky sanctions different from other sanctions?
- What role do civil society play vis-à-vis sanctions?
In this podcast episode we answer these and other equally informative and compelling questions together with Melissa Hooper - Director of Foreign Policy and Accountability at the NGO Human Rights First and international expert in the field of sanctions.
This is the first podcast in our "accountability series", which will also include discussions on concepts of universal jurisdiction and climate justice.
Twists and turns: alarming state of healthcare system in ...
In this episode we will explore the topic of healthcare. Thanks to infamous Covid-19 crisis, shortcomings in healthcare systems around the world are more visible than ever. Yet, in some countries, the poor state of the healthcare system is part of a much deeper and long-standing problem. And people in Tajikistan know it firsthand. One of the poorest countries in Asia, with the 9.5 million population and only $ 55 per capita investment in the healthcare sector – is in our focus today.
Our guest is Sebastien Peyrouse, Research Professor at the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, Central Asia Program at George Washington University.
Leadership on the line: human rights in the United States, BLM and its echoes in the FSU region
In this episode we are going to focus on the situation with human rights in the United States and possible implications recent events may have for the human rights community worldwide. We will also explore some parallels and linkages between what is currently going on in the US and violations that we observe in the Former Soviet Union region.
Our guest is Kate Watters, Executive Director at Crude Accountability, an environmental and human rights nonprofit organization based in the United States.
Как это понимать: расширение понятия пропаганды терроризма в российской риторике и правоприменительной практике.
Тема настоящего выпуска - расширение понятия пропаганды терроризма в российской риторике и правоприменительной практике.
Вместе с Александром Верховским, Директором Информационно-Аналитического Центра СОВА в Москве, будем разбираться:
1. Все ли в порядке с определением терроризма в российском законодательстве?
2. Как с этим связано резонансное дело Светланы Прокопьевой?
3. Как нынче применяется статья УК о пропаганде/оправдании терроризма?
4. Чего следует ожидать в будущем?
No room for nostalgia: mass protests in Belarus (Interview with Volga Siakhovich)
As IPHR continues to follow the events happening in Belarus, we spoke to Volga Siakhovich, legal expert for the Belarusian Association of Journalists. This time special focus has been put on the role of women in opposition and persecutions of journalists and bloggers during the protests.
Forced love does not last: mass protests in Belarus (Interview with Yan Avseyushkin)
IPHR continues to cover the events happening in Belarus.
In this interview we spoke with Belarusian journalist Yan Avseyushkin.
A storm is brewing: mass protests in Belarus (Interview with Yevgeniya Andreyiuk)
In this episode we are covering the events happening in Belarus.
The Presidential elections on the 9 August were marred by mass falsification. Alexander Lukashenko’s proclaimed victory was met by unprecedented peaceful public protest across the country. The law enforcement responded by detaining and ill-treating hundreds of protesters. As the escalation continues, we asked experts in Brussels and on the ground to comment on the situation.
Our first guest is Yevgeniya Andreyiuk, Expert at the Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial
Out of spirits: OSCE leadership crisis and its impact on human rights
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe Helsinki Final Act, and the 30th anniversary of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe. Instead of celebrating these anniversaries and recapturing a common purpose in challenging times, the OSCE is in serious trouble. The 57 member states failed to reach a consensus on extending the mandates of four of the OSCE’s top officials. Since then the OSCE has been de facto leaderless.
We speak with Walter Kemp, an editor of Security and Human Rights Monitor and Senior Adviser to the Cooperative Security Initiative, to find out the potential impact of the current crisis on human rights and the future of the OSCE.
По ту сторону близости: Бытовое насилие в Казахстане во время COVID-19 (часть 2)
Вторая часть выпуска о проблемах бытового и гендерного насилия в Казахстане. На этот раз мы обсуждаем правовые аспекты бытового насилия, в частности вопрос декриминализации бытового насилия в Казахстане, а также культурные аспекты проблемы.
Гости выпуска:
Диана Березовская, сотрудник Казахстанского бюро по правам человека и соблюдению законности, Роза Акылбекова, заместитель директора Бюро и координатор Коалиции НПО Казахстана против пыток, Кундыз Утебекова, адвокат и юрист по делам женщин и Лейла Зулейха Махмудова, эксперт в области программ гендерного и неформального образования.
Выпуск подготовлен в рамках проекта "Cодействие внедрению международных стандартов и передового опыта в борьбе с пытками в Казахстане через повышение потенциала Коалиции НПО Казахстана против пыток". Проект финансируется Европейским Союзом.
Содержание этого выпуска является исключительной ответственностью создателей и никоим образом не может считаться отражающим взгляды Европейского Союза.
По ту сторону близости: Бытовое насилие в Казахстане во время COVID-19 (часть 1)
На этой неделе у нас специальный выпуск для вас на русском языке, посвященный проблемам домашнего и гендерного насилия в Казахстане, и влиянию COVID-19 на ситуацию в этих сферах.
Гости выпуска:
Диана Березовская, сотрудник Казахстанского бюро по правам человека и соблюдению законности, Роза Акылбекова, заместитель директора Бюро и координатор Коалиции НПО Казахстана против пыток и Зульфия Байсакова, председатель правления Союза кризисных центров в Казахстане.
Первая часть выпуска посвящена кризисным центрам и их важнейшей роли для защиты прав женщин в Казахстане.
Выпуск подготовлен в рамках проекта "Cодействие внедрению международных стандартов и передового опыта в борьбе с пытками в Казахстане через повышение потенциала Коалиции НПО Казахстана против пыток". Проект финансируется Европейским Союзом.
Содержание этого выпуска является исключительной ответственностью создателей и никоим образом не может считаться отражающим взгляды Европейского Союза.
Long shot: implementation of international human rights law
Together with our guests we explore the limitations and possibilities of existing instruments of the international human rights law, compare the ECHR model with the UN Treaty Body model, and discuss how civil society can impact the enforcement of international legislation in their countries.
Our invited experts are:
Anastassiya Miller, Senior Legal Officer at PILnet
Kirill Koroteev, Human Rights Lawyer, who specialises in taking cases to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
Matter of fact: disinformation during COVID-19
In this episode we discuss disinformation. Particularly, how it affects us during the pandemic and what civil society сan do to fight back.
Our guests are:
Lukas Andriukaitis, Associate Director at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFR Lab).
Roman Osadchuk, Research Assistant for Eurasia at the Atlantic Council's DFR Lab.
Unsupportive lockdown: rights of LGBTQI during the crisis
In this episode we are focusing on the situation with the rights of LGBTQI community during the pandemic.
Our expert guests are:
Mari Kurtanidze, Strategic Litigation Coordinator at IPHR and a Gender Rapporteur for the Joint Council on Youth at the Council of Europe.
Olave Basabose, Membership Officer at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex (LGBTQI) Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO).
Prisoner's dilemma: Rights of persons kept in detention during COVID-19
This time we discuss the situation with rights of persons kept in detention during the pandemic and touch upon possible ways to respond to the challenges in the context of current crisis.
We are joined by Natalia Taubina, Director of the human rights NGO Public Verdict Foundation, and Mushegh Yekmalyan, Senior Human Rights Advisor at OMCT - World Organization against torture.
When autocracy meets pandemic: the case of Azerbaijan
In this episode we explore how Covid-19 restrictions are affecting human rights in Azerbaijan, one of the most autocratic countries in Eurasia.
We are joined by Rasul Jafarov, a prominent activist and director of the NGO Human Rights Club (HRC), and Ramute Remezaite, legal consultant at the European Human Rights Advocacy Center (EHRAC).
Legal or not? Human rights restrictions during Coronavirus.
In the first episode we discuss the possible impact of COVID-19 on human rights. In particular, the legality of human rights restrictions during the pandemic from the international law perspective.
Our guests today are Alex Prezanti - international lawyer and partner at Global Diligence LLP, and Maran Turner - executive director at Freedom Now.
Do you have a topic in mind you’d like to hear about? Let us know: podcast@iphronline.org