Let’s Talk Human Rights

This episode explores the central role of Botswana’s diamond industry in the country’s economic success and its reputation for responsible, transparent mining. Diamonds remain Botswana’s dominant export, generating around 80% of export revenue and supporting national development through jobs, infrastructure investment, and environmental stewardship. We also look at the growing importance of ESG –...

Released exactly one month after Prison Awareness Day, this episode takes you inside Ghana’s criminal justice system, where justice delayed often means justice denied. Host Masechaba Mdaka journeys through Accra, uncovering the lived realities behind statistics: people held on remand for years without trial, families torn apart by incarceration, and prisoners who find themselves caught in a system...

In the new look and new sounding sixth season of the Let’s Talk Human Rights podcast, titled “Getting it Right – Championing Human Rights for Effective Governance”, our host Masechaba Mdaka explores the progress and successes in the human rights space across a range of critical issues, focusing on how these challenges are being addressed and the solutions that are proving effective. Countless orga...

This podcast episode, titled 'Conversations with the Past, Present, and Regenerating Democracy: The Ethiopia Chapter', marks the conclusion of Season 3 of the Let's Talk Human Rights podcast, focusing on Transitional and Restorative Justice. The host, Masechaba Masemola wa-Mdaka, explores Ethiopia's journey through various transitions and its current efforts in implementing transitional justice me...

The Sierra Leone Civil War was one of the bloodiest in Africa resulting in more than fifty thousand people dead and half a million displaced in a nation that was then inhabited by around four million people. The conflict was particularly gruesome and protracted as a result of both the RUF and the Sierra Leone government often funded by “blood diamonds” mined on the backs of a slave labour raw mine...

In this compelling episode, we delve into the complexities of transitional justice and peacebuilding in Liberia, a nation marked by a tumultuous history of civil wars from 1989-1997 and 1999-2003, leaving profound scars on its society. Our guests, Aaron Weah and Ibrahim Al-Bakri Nyei, illuminate the path towards healing and reconciliation. We embark on a journey through Liberia's Truth and Reconci...

In this momentous season finale episode, the recording of the Let’s Talk Human Rights podcast takes centre stage in Siha District, nestled within the vibrant Kilimanjaro Regions of Tanzania. Our host, Masechaba Mdaka, is joined in person by two remarkable individuals, Elizabeth Mushi and Daniel Siphael, representing the Kilimanjaro Women Information Exchange and Community Organisation (KWIECO). Th...

This is part two of the episode taking an in depth look at digital rights and digital security. In this episode, we will delve into the practicalities of overcoming the challenges of censorship,surveillance, and strategies curtailing freedom of expression. In our modern era, where we champion various freedoms and associated rights, it's curious that we continue to grapple with a persistent challen...

Africa is undergoing a remarkable transformation with an exponential surge in internet connectivity, marking a significant milestone in the continent's technological advancement. However, this commendable progress in bridging the digital divide comes with a stark and concerning juxtaposition – Africa finds itself trailing behind in the crucial realm of cybersecurity. This pressing issue took centr...

“Access Denied! My right to self not authorised” The plight of LGBTQIA+ communities in an increasingly intolerant world”. In 2019, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation launched a campaign titled “An African Thing”. The significance of this campaign was to empirically document how many instances in various African cultures and societies where homosexuality could be found before colonisation. Evidence o...

The Wrong Side of Right, Counting the Cost for Whistleblowers. As many of you may know, the first part of the Zondo Commissions report was published on 4 January 2022. The fifth and final part was published on 22 June 2022. This after four years of an enquiry and investigation which was preceded by two painstakingly long years and resources that cost taxpayers millions to uproot and uncover the pl...

According to the website of the International Service for Human Rights, the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders defines a human rights defender as anyone working for the promotion and protection of human rights. This broad definition encompasses professional as well as non-professional human rights workers, volunteers, journalists, lawyers and anyone else carrying out, even on an...

"Show me the money, the economy of human life, the real truth behind human trafficking." Today we look at the increasing threat and prevalence of human trafficking. The International Labour Organisation believes there are almost 21 million victims of trafficking around the world. The UN's most recent report found almost half of the victims were forced to work typically in factories, restaurants, a...

In the latest episode of Let's Talk Human Rights podcast. Host Masechaba Mdaka is joined by Nice Nailantei Leng’ete, a Kenyan human rights activist advocating for an alternative right of passage or ARP for girls in Africa and campaigning to stop Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). According to the February 2022 United Nations Population Fund statistics on FGM, 14 African countries, predominantly in t...

Nous vous souhaitons la bienvenue à notre podcast spécial "Parlons Droits de l'Homme". Aujourd'hui, nous vous emmenons dans un voyage à travers le paysage des Droits de l'Homme en République démocratique du Congo. Notre collègue, Mme Mascheba Mdaka, se joint à notre invité Mme Rebecca Kabuo. Rebecca représente une nouvelle génération d'activistes de la RD Congo. Elle est affectueusement connue com...

We warmly welcome you to our next “Let’s Talk Human Rights” special podcast feature. Today, we take you on a journey through the human rights landscape of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our host, Masechaba Mdaka is joined by Ms Rebecca Kabuo. Rebecca represents a new generation of activists from the DR Congo. She is affectionately known as “one of the youngest prisoners of conscience”. Rebecca...

The oil rich South Sudan has been engulfed in ethnic violence since December 2013 and over 400 000 people have died since the conflict started. Numerous attempts to build peace have failed, including the pact that saw opposition leader Riek Machar return as Vice President in 2016, only to run away as fighting didn’t stop. A second peace settlement was signed in 2018, which mainly held with warring...

Our journey is taking us back to Cameroon. If you missed our previous Cameroon episode, please listen in. Our last episode explored the anglophone crisis in Cameroon. In this episode, we want to look at how things are going in Cameroon these days. Currently the two English speaking regions of Cameroon are witnessing an escalation of violence that has led to the death of several people. This is a r...

On this International Human Rights Day, we are very pleased that Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has taken the time to join our podcast for a second time. He is better known under his stage name H. E. Bobi Wine. Bobi Wine is a Ugandan politician, Presidential Candidate, activist, singer, actor, businessperson and philanthropist. As of 11 July 2017, he serves as Member of Parliament representing Ky...

As you may know, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence starts today. We want to take this opportunity to dedicate today's podcast episode to women in Africa. This is the second time that we feature a special episode on 16 Days of Activism. If you missed last year’s special episode, hosting Elizabeth Maro Minde from Tanzania as our guest, do listen to it wherever you listen to your podc...

In today's episode, we will be focusing on Kenya. Unfortunately, arbitrary arrests, police violence, forced disappearances and intimidation attempts against the civilian population are part of the sad everyday life in Kenya. In recent years, an increasing number of reports has noted the growing difficulties of human rights organizations in Kenya. The scope for action is shrinking. Particularly, le...

Today, we find ourselves in Rwanda. Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is also known as the land of a thousand hills. Rwanda shares borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2017, President Paul Kagame was elected to a third seven-year term. According to official figures he received 99 percent of the vote. As we already pointed out in our previous epis...

Our next series of episodes will introduce you to the very people who actively stand up for human rights in Africa despite strong headwinds, and the work they do as Human Rights Defenders. We will meet Human Rights Defenders from different countries, listen to their stories, and learn what motivated them to become Human Rights Defenders in the first place. Host Nangamso Kwinana is joined by Elvis...

Have you ever thought about what it is like to grow up or live in place that is in a constant crisis? Terrible reports of war, terror and human rights violations? Today, we want to take you on a trip to West Africa. More precisely, to Mali. Unfortunately, we often associate Mali with war, terrorism, ethnic tension and crisis. However, today, we would like to paint a clearer picture of the situatio...

In our fourth episode, we have two guests from Uganda visiting us. Nicholas Opiyo, a leading human rights lawyer and founder of Chapter Four Uganda, an organisation that provides research, advocacy, and outreach services to contribute to laws, policies, and practices in the interest of civil liberties and human rights. Since 2005, Opiyo has worked tirelessly to promote civil liberties in Uganda, o...