The Human Rights Pulse Podcast

In this podcast Lycia Maddocks talks with host Laura Williams about the importance of Indigenous representation at COP, exposing the reality behind the climate crisis conversations and their significant effects on Indigenous and human rights. Lycia focuses on the ongoing inequity of small communities in important matters and big entities’ lack of accountability to the current social dilemmas.

Peter Tatchell has spent 55 years campaigning for human rights, LGBT+ freedom and global justice. Here, he speaks to George Cooper for Human Rights Pulse about the UK's transphobia problem, his fears for the Human Rights Act, his hit Netflix film, and why even at 70 years old he will never stop fighting for the rights of others.

Check out our latest biweekly podcast focusing on the latest human rights developments and stories from around the world.

In the past weeks, the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon reached new highs, as massive human rights abuses are recorded along with a growing refugee crisis; also India receives new criticism for its most recent crackdown on freedom of expression across the country and especially in Kashmir; finally, while China tries to resolve its latest confrontation with the #MeeToo movement, more attention is being paid to national attempts at sportswashing to distract the international community from their institutionalised human rights violations.

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

Check out our latest biweekly podcast focusing on the latest human rights developments and stories from around the world.

In the past month, a military coup rocked Sudan, with the arrest, and recent release, of democratic prime minister Abdalla Hamdok and a massive wave of pro-democratic protests sweeping the streets of the nation; Belarus instigated a crisis on its borders with EU member states in retaliation for the sanctions imposed on the country and for the refused recognition of the elections that saw Lukashenko winning by a landslide in 2020; and finally, the conflict in Ethiopia is reaching new levels of violence, with the country on the brink of civil war and worsening conditions for the people on the ground.

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

Check out our latest biweekly podcast focusing on the latest human rights developments and stories from around the world.

In the past two weeks, Texas monopolised headlines in the US for a series of controversial laws addressing issues such as the vaccine mandate and a re-shaping of the State's voting map; all across the world, people took to the street once again to protest against undemocratic systems and inequalities; a team of UK lawyers presented a case against officials from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, accusing them of war crimes in the Yemen war; and finally, reporting by the Guardian brings attention back on the increasing weaponisation of Interpol by autocratic regimes, that resort to the organization to persecute political opposers. 

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

Check out our latest biweekly podcast focusing on the latest human rights developments and stories from around the world.

In the past two weeks, the EU passed a resolution calling for the UAE to release prisoners of conscience, threatening a boycott of the expo 2020 taking place in Dubai; ‘Hotel Rwanda’ activist Paul Rusesabagina has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after what it appears to be an unfair trial; a report by Freedom House highlights a growing trend of authoritarianism and rights deprivation online, with extremely low levels being recorded this year; and finally, images of Haitian migrants being chased by officers on horseback appearing to be holding whips sparks backlash amidst heavy repatriations.

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

In this episode, Human Rights Pulse coordinator for ArtPulse, Diana Elena Stoica, unpacks how cultural heritage relates to human dignity and the right to life, and in what directions society and institutions should move to ensure respect of cultural identities and prevent their weaponization.

Check out our latest biweekly podcast focusing on the latest human rights developments and stories from around the world.

In the past two weeks, hardliners and internationally recognised terrorists are among the representatives of the new interim government of the new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; a coup in Guinea overtakes president Condé’s third term, citing human rights violations and economic mismanagement as the main reasons behind the coup; the US Supreme Court recently refused to stop an abortion ban to take effect in Texas, provoking a national backlash and accusing the law of unconstitutionality; and finally, the French Supreme Court deemed the cement company complicit in crimes against humanity in Syria.   

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

In the past two weeks, an investigation conducted by a group of media outlets reveals concerning details about the spyware Pegasus and how it poses a threat to personal rights and international security; the suspension of the Tunisian Parliament and Prime Minister by President Saied had led to opposition parties calling for a coup - the country remains divided as to what should happen next. Also, the consequences of the climate crisis are more apparent and extreme across the globe, presenting world leaders with imminent challenges that can no longer be avoided; and finally, an incident in a factory in Bangladesh raises concerns about safety regulations in the country.

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

In the past two weeks, anger over shortages of food and medicines turn people to protest against the government in Cuba; the arrest of former South African president Jacob Zuma causes riots and looting in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng; and finally, more cases of authorities cracking down on journalism and activism are recorded in Vietnam, Palestine, and Georgia, highlighting an ongoing pattern of the state repressing free speech. 

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

In the last two weeks, Eswatini struggles to bring democracy to the last absolute monarchy in Africa. Meanwhile, the UN urges states to take action regarding the risk for refugees and stateless people who are missing out on COVID-19 vaccinations. Greece reports the latest of a long series of abuses against migrants, while in Nicaragua president Ortega has launched a series of arrests targeting the opposition and potential rivals in the upcoming general elections in November 2021. Finally, we take a look at the international community's reaction to Turkey formally leaving the Istanbul convention, causing concern not only for human rights associations but also the LGBT+ community.

Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

In the last two weeks, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar brings the country on the brink of a humanitarian crisis and an economic collapse, amidst accusations of violations of privacy regulations by the UN; in Hong Kong, journalists are once again the target of the government’s repressive policies; whilst in Nigeria, Twitter is banned after removing President’s Buhari’s tweets threatening the Igbo ethnic group. Moreover, Germany and Norway pass laws to regulate human rights due diligence and at the same time in Hungary, Orban’s governments approves a legislation censoring LGBT+ content in schools and on TV. Hosted by Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe.

In the last two weeks: (1) Representatives of the Herero and Nama communities in Namibia have rejected the €1.1 billion reparations offer made by the German government; (2) Belarus' hijacking of a plane to arrest a young opposition journalist sparks outrage and undermines freedoms both inside and outside the country; and (3) Finally, a landmark Dutch ruling against the oil company Shell and its possible future developments. Hosted by Laura and Nigel at Human Rights Pulse.

In the last two weeks: riots and police brutality in Colombia followed a tax reform proposal that outraged the population; a new bill in Hong Kong tackling fake news is in the making, highly likely to further compromise freedom of speech. Also, violence in Israel and Palestine caused unprecedented destruction in Gaza, whilst West Papua continues to be shaken by an enduring government crackdown targeting rebels and the local population. 

Listen to our bi-weekly podcast with Human Rights Pulse team members Laura Sanzarello and Nigel Chidombwe covering the biggest human rights stories over the last couple of weeks.

This episode is part of a series of short interviews with climate change and environmental justice activists in collaboration with Earth Refuge and E & U For The Climate. In this episode, James Sedlak discusses his experience fighting wildfires in a warming climate and the threat of migration. For more information, check out: https://earthrefuge.org/ and https://fortheclimate.eu/.

"You are not disabled; it is society that disables you". As the Disability Discrimination Act marks its 25th anniversary in Britain, Emma discusses her work as an activist in the disability rights space. She speaks about the lack of inclusion of disabled people in the mainstream international human rights discourse. Through her campaigning, she works closely with policymakers, lawyers, and NGOs to continuously shine a light on the topic. 

Podcast with co-founder of Human Rights Pulse, Aqsa Hussain. 

"Refugees are always the helpless, the victims, the threat, the poor..." - Mohammed talks about the various initiatives he is involved with which turn these assumptions on their head and empower refugees to become the active participants they want to be in their new communities.