The Human Rights Podcast

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Mais Qandeel to discuss annexation, occupation, and the challenges of enforcing international law. The conversation also highlights themes explored in her forthcoming textbook co-authored with Professor Michael Lynk. The podcast was produced by Gráinne McGrath and Philippa Pitt. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribu...

In this episode, LLM student Marlene Kulmus speaks to Ðermana Kurić, a research associate at the BILQIS project at the Irish Centre for Human Rights and former adviser on combatting racism, xenophobia and discrimination, about the intersections of Islamophobia and sexism and its impact on Muslim women’s access to justice. The conversation centres around the case of Emela Mujanović, a Bosniak Musli...

In this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Eduarda Boni speaks with Dr Justina Uriburu, Assistant Professor in International Law at the University of Manchester and Co‑Director of the Manchester International Law Centre. Together, they examine the unfolding crisis in Venezuela, focusing on the events surrounding the 3 January military operation and the apprehension and extraction of...

In this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Paula Cordova speaks with Dr. Anita Ferrara, Transitional Justice scholar based at the Irish Centre for Human Rights about her new book Transitional Justice Archives: Documenting Human Rights Violations in Latin America, which she co-edited with Dr. Beatrice Canossi. This episode guides listeners through the key concepts, definitions, and ch...

In this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Joshua Musana speaks with Thandeka Chauke, an international human rights lawyer and the advocacy lead of the Global Movement Against Statelessness, a community of stateless people, activists and civil society allies dedicated to the eradication of statelessness and the promotion of human rights of all stateless persons. Thandeka is also a me...

On this episode of The Human Rights Podcast, LLM Student Paula Córdova speaks with Dr. Gillian Kane, current Lecturer in Law at Ulster University co-chairing the Human Trafficking Research Network, Research Affiliate at the Refugee Law Initiative and trustee at Chab Dai UK. Join us as we explore Dr. Gillian's research on child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland and displacement caused by or...

In this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, Saeede Mokhtarzade, PhD candidate at ICHR speaks with Prof. Roja Fazaeli, professor of Law and Islamic Studies at ICHR. The discussion explores the current human rights crisis in Iran, with a focus on the nationwide protests that began in December 2025. The conversation explores the roots of the uprising, the government’s violent crackdown on protestors...

In this episode, Irish Centre for Human Rights LLM student Rebecca Shannon speaks with Professor Padraic Kenna, lecturer of land, property and housing law and policy from the School of Law at the University of Galway, delving into the concept of housing as a fundamental human right, exploring relevant legal framework, policy challenges and the future of housing rights in Ireland and beyond. To lea...

This episode of the Human Rights podcast features a rebroadcast of “TALKING IMMIGRATION: Prof. Ciara Smyth,” originally published on The Mick Clifford Podcast on 27 November 2025. In this conversation, Professor Ciara Smyth, an expert in Irish and EU immigration and asylum law at the University of Galway, examines recent Irish government measures on immigration, challenges dominant narratives abou...

This episode offers an unflinching and deeply insightful exploration of one of Ireland’s darkest chapters—its 20th-century system of “Mother and Baby Homes” and related institutions, and the wider regime of enforced family separation. Joining us are Dr. Maeve O’Rourke and Dr. Mary Harney of the CLANN Project, a renowned survivor-led initiative that continues in its tenacity to challenge the Irish...

On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Alessandra Cao speaks with Dr Niamh Keady-Tabbal about the topic of “Drift-backs” in the Aegean, the role of Frontex, and the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) failure to hold Greece accountable for serious human rights violations committed in the Aegean during systematic push-back operations. The conversation first introduces the topi...

On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM Student Emily Donnellan speaks with Emily Williams (Policing and Justice Policy Officer at ICCL) about a cross-border report calling on the Irish government to establish a Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) to investigate unresolved deaths and incidents of torture and ill-treatment, including (but not limited to) cases related to the Troubles. The...

In this episode, ICHR LLM student Sonia Artesani speaks with Dr. Hannah Franzki, Senior Legal Advisor at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and researcher at the Interdisciplinary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at the Frei Universität Berlin. Together, they discuss corporate accountability for human rights violations in both transitional justice processes and co...

On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Alessandra Cao speaks with Gearóid Ó Cuinn, the founder and current director of the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN). GLAN is an independent organization founded in 2016, which identifies and pursues legal action to tackle power actors involved in serious human rights violations and environmental harms. The conversation first introduces th...

On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, PhD researcher Kirsten Larson speaks with Dr. Shelly Whitman (Executive Director) and Dr. Julie Marie Hyde (Director of Research and Knowledge Mobilization) of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security. They discuss the history of the Institute and share insights into their latest research on moral injury. Learn more about the work of the...

On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM Master's student Jennifer Hough speaks with Dr. Charles O’Mahony, a lecturer at the University of Galway's School of Law, specialising in disability and mental health law and policy, and Dr. Pat Bracken, an independent psychiatrist who argues against the medicalisation of human distress and advocates for strengthening person-centred, community-based...

In this episode, ICHR LLM student Sonia Artesani speaks with Maksym Popov, Advisor to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, and Richard J. Rogers, a lawyer and expert in international human rights and criminal law, currently addressing businesses' impact on human rights. Together, they discuss the prosecution of environmental crimes and ecocide in Ukraine and at the international level, analyzing the...

In this episode, Dr. Ciara Smyth interviews European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly. They explore Emily's career and her experiences serving as both the Irish Ombudsman and the European Ombudsman. The podcast was produced by Gráinne McGrath, Ciara Smyth and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outr...

In this episode, LLM student Laine Stover speaks with political commentator and US attorney Larry Donnelly. The discussion focuses on the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election, with an emphasis on immigration, swing states, and Vice President picks. The podcast was produced by Laine Stover, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale...

In this episode, ICHR PhD researcher Kirsten Larson introduces Professor Shane Darcy’s inaugural lecture, "Ireland and the World – Appealing to International Law in Times of Conflict." Professor Darcy explores the role of international law, with a focus ranging from Ireland to Palestine. The podcast was produced by Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Sugge...

In this episode, PhD researcher Kirsten Larson speaks with Katie Davis, Julia Collins and Camina Engelhardt, the current team of LLM students working on the Human Rights Podcast. They discuss their time at the Irish Centre for Human Rights and the work they have been doing throughout this academic year. LLM Programmes at the ICHR: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/irish-centre-human-rights/academi...

In this Episode, LLM Student Debora Lira de Lacerda speaks with Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967. She talks about the release of her recent report Anatomy of Genocide. Link to the report: https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc5573-report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-palestinian...

In this Episode, LLM Student Julia Collins hosts Professor Ray Murphy, Program Director of the LLM Peace Operations and Humanitarian Law. Together, they discuss children and armed conflicts, focussing on the recruitment of children and the legal protection of children engaged with armed groups. The podcast was produced by Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcas...

In this episode, PhD student Kirsten Larson hosts Dr. Róisín Mulgrew, the programme director for the new LLM programme, Criminology, Criminal Justice & Human Rights. Kirsten and Dr. Mulgrew discuss the new programme commencing in September 2024 and the exciting and unique aspects of this LLM. More information: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/criminology-crimin...

In this episode, LLM student Katie Davis speaks with Dr. Ciara Smyth, Programme Director of the LLM in International Migration and Refugee Law and Policy at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, about Ireland’s Direct Provision System and efforts to reform it. This podcast was recorded in mid-February discussing the accommodation crisis for asylum seekers in Ireland and by the time of its release the...