Just Access

In this episode, we continue the conversation with Dr Miranda Melcher, discussing her recently published book about peace treaties and how to improve outcomes coming out of civil wars. Last time we talked a bit about how I got into this research and some of the main findings of the book and today we go into more detail and discuss ways in which this links to access to justice.If you would like to order the book, you can find it here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/securing-peace-in-angola-and-mozambique-9781350407930/Enjoy listening!Don’t forget to rate us, recommend us and share on social media!

In this episode, we have something special for you. We have placed our podcast host, Dr. Miranda Melcher, on the other side of the microphone, to allow our audience to get to know her and her academic work better. Dr Melcher is interviewed by Nalenhle Moyo, the new Donor and Communication Specialist at Just Access.Dr. Melcher recently published a book titled Securing Peace in Angola and Mozambique, where she delves into the role of access to justice and the resolution of civil conflict. In this first episode of our conversation, we'll discuss a bit about how I got into this research and some of the big picture findings of the book before, while in the next episode, we'll be talking about those specifics more and discussing implications for access to justice.If you would like to order the book, you can find it here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/securing-peace-in-angola-and-mozambique-9781350407930/Enjoy listening!Don’t forget to rate us, recommend us and share on social media!

Join host Dr Miranda Melcher in this compelling episode of Just Access as she sits down with acclaimed writer and editor Jocelyn Zuckerman to discuss her groundbreaking book, Planet Palm. Published in 2021, this exposé delves into the environmental and social abuses rampant in the global palm oil industry.Key Highlights:Learn About Palm Oil: Learn about the ubiquitous palm oil, its origins, and its extensive use in everyday products.First-Hand Experience: Jocelyn recounts her eye-opening journey to Liberia, where she witnessed the devastating impacts of palm oil plantations on local communities and the environment.Environmental Catastrophe: Understand the far-reaching consequences of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change driven by palm oil cultivation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.Social Justice Issues: Explore the grim reality for plantation workers, including land grabs, poor working conditions, and exploitation.Access to Justice: The discussion highlights the significant challenges in ensuring justice for affected communities and workers, and the limited efficacy of oversight mechanisms like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).Consumer Responsibility: Jocelyn underscores the role of consumers in advocating for ethical practices by being mindful of product ingredients and supporting sustainable brands.About Jocelyn Zuckerman: Jocelyn Zuckerman is a prolific writer focused on environmental and social justice issues. With a background in literature and journalism, her career spans across various esteemed publications, shedding light on critical global matters.Why Listen? This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in environmental justice, human rights, and the intricate connections between global trade and local impacts. Gain insights into the hidden costs of palm oil and discover what you can do to support a more just and sustainable world.Call to Action: Read Planet Palm to dive deeper into the issues discussed. Stay informed and take action by advocating for sustainable practices and supporting policies that protect our environment and human rights.Follow and share the Podcast to make sure you never miss an episode!Tune in to this enlightening conversation and join us in the journey towards improving access to justice for all.Keywords: Jocelyn Zuckerman, Planet Palm, palm oil industry, environmental justice, social justice, deforestation, biodiversity loss, climate change, human rights, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, access to justice, sustainable practices, consumer responsibility, global trade, environmental impact, podcast episode, Just Access.

In this episode, Dr Miranda Melcher, Senior Legal Fellow at Just Access, engages in a profound conversation with Donatella Rovera, Senior Crisis Response Advisor at Amnesty International. With her extensive experience in investigating human rights abuses in conflict zones such as Gaza, Syria, and Iraq, Donatella provides an in-depth look into the complexities and risks involved in her work.Key Highlights:Meet Donatella Rovera: A living legend in human rights circles, Donatella Rovera is not a household name. Hear her journey from being driven by a passion for truth and justice to becoming a leading figure in human rights investigations.First-Hand Experience: Learn what it is like to be an on-the-ground investigator in conflict situations.The challenges of investigating in wartime: Discover the intricacies of planning and conducting on-the-ground investigations in dynamic conflict situations where timely evidence collection is crucial. Learn about the evolution of investigative techniques with advancements in technology and the continued importance of face-to-face interactions and first-hand observations.Verify, verify, verify: Learn about the indispensable role of verification and the multi-faceted nature of gathering reliable information.Moral quandries: Donatella's insights offer a rare glimpse into the decision-making processes behind determining where and when to conduct investigations, ensuring the safety of all involved, and overcoming the obstacles posed by limited access and high-risk environments.About Jocelyn Zuckerman: Donatella Rovera is a Senior Crisis Response Advisor at Amnesty International. She has investigated confilcts around the world to expose human rights abuses and violations of the law of war for three decades, and has been on the ground in Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Ukraine, and in many other conflicts.Why Listen? This compelling conversation is a must for anyone who wants to understand human rights in conflicts, and the incredible dedication and courage behind the work to investigate and expose abuses of human rights and the laws of war.Call to Action: Follow the Just Access podcastShare this episode on social media to spread awareness.Rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast app.Send your comments and suggestions to podcast@just-access.de.Tune in next time for the continuation of our conversation with Donatella Rovera, where we delve deeper into her experiences and insights from various conflict areas and explore ways to enhance access to justice!Keywords: Human Rights, Justice, Amnesty International, Donatella Rovera, Conflict Zones, Civil War, War, Conflict, Atrocities, Civilians, Investigations, Evidence Collection, Verification, Technology, Human Rights Defenders, Access to Justice, Podcast.

In this episode, we have an extra special interview about the just-decided European Court of Human Rights cases on climate change. We have an incredible expert with us to help us understand these decisions that came out just a few hours ago by the time of the recording. Judge Professor Helen Keller is Chair of International and Public Law at the University of Zurich, and a member of the Bosnian Constitutional Court. Crucially for our discussion today, she was also formerly a judge on the European Court of Human Rights. She currently leads a project at the University of Zurich on climate rights and remedies, and in fact has a pretty big conference on the topic coming up this week, and is herself both Swiss and based in Switzerland.For more on her work and resources on climate rights and remedies cases, visit: https://www.climaterights.uzh.ch/en.htmlEnjoy listening!Don’t forget to rate us, recommend us and share on social media! Support the Show.

In this episode, we get to talk to Amy Kaslow.  She is a writer and photographer with a lens on at-risk societies worldwide. She's spent the past four decades writing, broadcasting, and photographing in the world's trouble spots, chronicling the immediate aftermath of conflict and well into the post-war period. She also does work within the United States, as well as with art and information today. We speak about how her career began and how she thinks about storytelling across time, place, and mediums. You can find out more about Amy's work in her gallery and with Know Now at: www.amykaslow.comEnjoy listening!Don’t forget to rate us, recommend us and share on social media!Support the Show.

In this episode, we have the opportunity to speak to Dunja Mijatović, the outgoing Commissioner for Human Rights for the Council of Europe, a position she served in from 2018 to 2024.Listen to this episode to find out about her thoughts on the position and the state of human rights in Europe today. Enjoy listening!Don’t forget to rate us, recommend us and share on social media!Support the Show.

In this episode, we continue the conversation with Professor Fernand de Varennes, who has just finished serving as the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues and is currently a visiting professor at the Université Catholique de Lyon and the University of Sarajevo.Our discussion in this episode builds on our conversation from the previous episode when we discussed the role of Special Rapporteur and some recent trends in this area. In this episode, we continue our conversation and think about ways to improve access to justice for minority rights.Enjoy listening!Don’t forget to rate us, recommend us and share on social media!Support the Show.