In this episode, Toufique speaks with Mira Hammad, a formidable criminal barrister at Garden Court North. Mira speaks about erosion of protest rights in the UK and the stifling of peaceful dissent. She also sheds light on the recent proscription of Palestine Action, its potentially chilling effect on free speech and the ongoing legal challenge.
In this episode, Sophie interviews Lorraine Leete, lawyer andcoordinator at the Legal Centre Lesvos. Lorraine has extraordinary front-line experience working with migrants and refugees on the island. She gives our listeners an insight into camp conditions, the Hellenic coastguard’s pushbacks operations, and the criminalisation of migrants and human rights defenders. This is a must-listen for those with an interest in migration flows and understanding the human cost of Europe’s militarised borders
It’s Refugee Week and we’re releasing three episodes focusing on the experiences of refugees across the globe. In this episode we hear from Prashant Busan, one of India’s most highly regarded Supreme Court advocates who works on landmark cases, including on behalf of Rohingya refugees in India. In this powerful interview, Prashant outlines the atrocities being faced by Rohingya refugees and and their struggle to have their fundamental rights recognised andupheld.
Goodbye Anna!
It's an emotional time for the No Walls Team as we have to say goodbye to Anna as a co-host. This episode goes down memory lane, as Anna, Sheroy and Toufique look back on their favourite episodes. We'll miss you Anna!
We’re back!!
Trump’s executive actions have been described by Amnesty International as “harmful, racist - an anti-immigrant agenda”. We see here in the UK, our own Prime Minister’s rhetoric is becoming more and more extreme. This episode delves into Trump’s recent decisions and we hear from the incredible Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of the Justice Action Centre and a nationally recognised attorney in the US focusing on immigrants’ rights.
Also more personally, Sophie Lucas joins the NWP team as a new host!! She is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers with considerable experience in complex human rights challenges against public bodies, having previously worked as a solicitor. Sophie was named ‘Times Lawyer of the Week’ following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the Rwanda policy was unlawful.
We’re back!
Amid a world of increasing conflict and suffering, this episode shines a light on international justice and the ongoing efforts to seek accountability for human rights violations. We cover the ICC arrest warrants in relation to Palestine, and the recent developments in Syria.
We speak to two brilliant guests: Yasmine Ahmed, the UK Director of Human Rights Watch with two decades of experience in international law and human rights advocacy, and Isabella Kirwan, ex-Duncan Lewis turned international law barrister at Guernica 37 chambers who represents in cases before international criminal tribunals in The Hague.
Enjoy!
In this episode we hear two brilliant interviews on climate justice and migration.
First from the heavyweight barrister Jessica Simor KC, covering her remarkable career and role in the landmark ECtHR case of Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland.
Then from Yumna Kamel, Legal Education Officer at Right to Remain and the co-founder and executive director of Earth Refuge, the planet's first legal think tank dedicated to climate migrants.
Enjoy.
Resources referenced by Yumna for further reading:
ICAAD report on the Right to Life with Dignity for Climate Displaced Persons: https://icaad.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ICAAD-RTLWD-Policy-Brief.pdf
Kerilyn Schewel's in/voluntary im/mobility work: https://mixedmigration.org/staying-put-why-its-time-to-pay-more-attention-to-mixed-immobility/
UNHCR statement on 'Legal considerations regarding claims for international protection made in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and disasters’: https://www.refworld.org/policy/legalguidance/unhcr/2020/en/123356
Annalisa Savaresi and Joana Setzer from LSE’s Grantham Institute have identified more than 100 climate cases that rely on human rights arguments to promote action on climate change: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/a-first-global-mapping-of-rights-based-climate-litigation-reveals-a-need-to-explore-just-transition-cases-in-more-depth/
Earth Refuge website: https://earthrefuge.org/
Socials: @earthrefuge
Sheroy and Toufique are back discussing the last few years of the Tory government through the lens of some of their cases, Toufique's recent award success and a little on the EUROs.
The latest conflict has plunged Sudan into "one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history", according to the UN who also warn it may trigger the world's largest hunger crisis. UNICEF says some communities in Sudan have been pushed to the brink of famine.
We speak to Mark Townsend, a senior global development reporter at the Guardian who has recently visited neighbouring Chad, home to Sudanese refugees. He talks about evidence of ethnic cleansing, in "Darfur's unfolding dystopian nightmare".
We also speak to the Co-Directors at Waging Peace, an NGO based in the UK dedicated to building better lives for Sudanese refugees.
This episode shines a light on a formidable human rights defender, Helen Duffy, a Scottish international lawyer and academic. She is a Professor of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the University of Leiden and runs her own international law practice ‘Human Rights in Practice (HRiP)' specialising in strategic litigation – with cases from Guantanamo Bay to Palestinian land rights.
A particularly inspiring listen to mark International Women’s Day 2024. Enjoy.
As the UK's House of Lords currently debates the 'Safety of Rwanda Bill', this episode returns to Rwanda.
We hear from Michela Wrong, an award-winning journalist and author who has spent over two decades writing about Africa. She has written for Reuters, the BBC and the Financial Times, amongst others. She has also written several books, including ‘Do Not Disturb’ - a scathing assessment of Rwanda under President Kagame which brought our attention to her.
We hope you enjoy.
Link to the transcript of Baroness Hale’s comments in the House of Lords as mentioned in the introduction: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-02-19/debates/69F06855-C925-4753-9277-D92C1BEB6CD0/SafetyOfRwanda(AsylumAndImmigration)Bill
This episode dives into International Criminal Law, including the avenues for international criminal accountability and the role and power of the International Criminal Court. We hear a fascinating interview with Toby Cadman, barrister and co-founder of The Guernica 37 Group and Joint Head of Guernica 37 Chambers, and an experienced international criminal and humanitarian law specialist.
However, first our co-hosts speak more on the government's proposed plans for Rwanda following the Supreme Court's Judgment.
Note: our interview with Toby Cadman was recorded on 23 November 2023 and therefore some facts and statistics may be slightly out-of-date.
This episode dives into International Humanitarian Law, specifically in the context of what is happening right now in Gaza especially as Israel resumes its offensive. We hope to provide you with a clear overview of the international legal position through insights from two highly-informed guests: Clive Baldwin, Senior Legal Advisor at Human Rights Watch, and Professor Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute.
We are back for Season 3!
On Wednesday 15 November, the UK Supreme Court unanimously held the Secretary of State's Rwanda policy to be unlawful. Tune in to hear our co-hosts plus solicitor Sophie Lucas debrief on the judgment, discuss the process running up to it and what it was like to be in the Courtroom when Lord Reed read out those words.
Music plays a central role in the lives of so many, not least those who want to express their views of protest and resistance through the medium of art. The No Walls Podcast is back, this time with two extremely gifted guests: Nick Armstrong KC of Matrix Chambers - one of the country’s leading barristers, and Bumi Thomas - an inspirational musician with lived experience of standing up to the Home Office. Bumi was kind enough to let us feature one of her original songs at the end of the episode, and both have been kind enough to provide us with playlists of the songs that they refer to. Follow the link below to listen to their selections!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NHe2RxowpUrgGCL13QvhZ?si=EC9u5TE1Qz6rx6Ub6GYM6g
With 21 episodes and an increasing audience, The No Walls Podcast is continuing to grow! If you're interested in listening, we've put together a short trailer so you can hear some of the conversations we've had over the past 16 months and the kind of content you can expect going forward! The trailer includes the following clips:
1. Toufique Hossain, one of our co-hosts, talking about his most moving moment over his extensive career (S01E02).
2. Dr Emilie McDonnel, Advocacy Coordinator at Human Rights Watch, talking about the UK's Rwanda policy (S01E07).
3. Alphonsine Kabagabo, the director of the NGO Women for Refugee Women and survivor of sexual violence & the Rwandan genocide, talking about the impact of gender-based violence and Home Office shortcomings (S01E10).
4. Michael Etienne, barrister at Garden Court Chambers, talking about the role of racial prejudice and bias in the legal profession (S01E09).
5. Bella Sankey, director at the time of the NGO Detention Action, talking about myths in the sphere of immigration and asylum (S01E03).
It's been an interesting few months! This episode attempts to summarise the latest issues that are keeping those working in the immigration and asylum fields very busy...and worried. Toufique and Sheroy talk Rwanda, Rule 39 interim measures, ECHR, asylum accommodation on barges and the dreaded Illegal Migration Bill. Tune in!!
Spanish Version of S02 Special - Part 2
En este episodio, entrevistamos a Adil Jose Meléndez Marquez, un extraordinario abogado colombiano de derechos humanos. Es uno de los pocos abogados que trabaja en casos de restitución de tierras y enjuiciamiento de (para)militares en la región norte de Bolívar. Representa principalmente a personas desplazadas e indígenas. Adil Meléndez sobrevivió a tres intentos de asesinato por parte de cicarios (asesinos). A pesar de las amenazas, está decidido a continuar con su trabajo para evitar que ciertos grupos de ciudadanos no tengan acceso a la justicia.
¡Es una escucha inspiradora! Un agradecimiento especial a Carme Clavel Arcas, Coordinadora de la Caravana Colombiana, por facilitar y traducir.
We now bring you Part 3 of our mini-series within Season 2, where each episode will focus on a different human rights defender in a different country across the world. We hope it inspires you and provides hope to all who stand up for people's rights...you are not alone!
This episode interviews Milica Svabic, a Serbian human rights lawyer who works for the NGO KlikAktiv, the Center for Development of Social Policies in Belgrade, Serbia. She discusses the political and media landscape in Serbia towards migrants, her critical work providing legal advice to asylum-seekers in Serbia and the dire situation for those living in settlement camps on the border with Hungary. A fascinating listen.
We cannot wait for you all to listen to Part 2 of our mini-series within Season 2, where each episode will focus on a different human rights defender in a different country across the world. We hope it inspires you and provides hope to all who stand up for people's rights...you are not alone!
This episode interviews Adil Jose Meléndez Marquez, an extraordinary Colombian human rights lawyer. He is one of the few lawyers working on land restitution cases, and the prosecution of the (para)military in the northern Bolivar region. He mainly represents displaced and indigenous peoples.
Adil Meléndez survived three attempted assassination attempts by cicario’s (assassins). Despite the threats, he is determined to continue his work to prevent certain groups of citizens from having no access to justice at all.
It is an inspiring listen! A special thanks to Carme Clavel Arcas, the Co-ordinator at the Colombian Caravana, for facilitating and translating!