How Can Businesses Be Held Accountable for Human Rights Violations? | Dr. Rachel Chambers

In this episode of the Just Access Podcast, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Dr. Rachel Chambers, Assistant Professor of Business Law at the University of Connecticut School of Business, about corporate accountability, human rights and access to justice. Drawing on her experience as a barrister in the UK and her academic research, Dr. Chambers explores how globalisation has exposed inequalities in labour and environmental standards, and why businesses must respect human rights wherever they operate. The conversation examines the UN Guiding Principles on Business...

In Part 2 of our conversation with FIAN International, Dr. Miranda Melcher continues exploring the human right to food with Charlotte Dreger and Ayushi Kalyan. This episode examines how corporate power, international law, and public policy shape food systems — and what needs to change to ensure that everyone can access adequate food with dignity. Corporate concentration in food systems gives a small number of powerful companies significant influence over food production, prices, and distribution. From speculation and the expansion of ultra-processed foods to environmental destruction, biodiversity loss, and the displacement of small-scale food producers, these practices can undermine the right to...

In this episode, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Ayushi Kalyan and Charlotte Dreger from FIAN International about the human right to food, why hunger and malnutrition are matters of injustice, and how human rights frameworks can help transform food systems.

The conversation explores why the right to food goes beyond food security. Charlotte explains how it encompasses not only access to adequate, nutritious food, but also the conditions under which food is produced, distributed and consumed. She highlights the importance of food sovereignty, people's participation in decision-making, and addressing the structural inequalities and power imbalances that...

In this episode, Dr. Miranda Melcher continues her conversation with Skylar Thompson, Deputy Director, and Jennifer Connet, Legal Advisor, at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA). They discuss how HRA documents human rights violations inside Iran, preserves evidence, and protects victims, witnesses, and sources in a high-risk environment.

The conversation explores HRA’s extensive network inside Iran, including its relationships with people across the country and inside prisons. Skylar explains how information is verified and corroborated, then analysed to identify patterns, responsible institutions and individuals, and broader systems of repression. She also discusses

the se...

In this episode, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Skyler Thompson, Deputy Director, and Jennifer Connet, Legal Advisor, at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA). They discuss HRA’s origins, its work documenting human rights violations in Iran, and its submission to the German Federal Prosecutor requesting a structural investigation into crimes committed in Iran. Skyler and Jennifer share their journeys into human rights work and introduce HRA, founded inside Iran in 2006 by student activist Keyvan Rafie. They explain how its network of on-the-ground documenters remains central to its work today.

The conversation explores the st...

🎧 Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr Miranda Melcher speaks with Mossaad Mohamed, a human rights lawyer, conflict resolution specialist, and Executive Director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS). Mossaad shares his personal journey into human rights work and the experiences in Darfur that shaped his commitment to fighting for justice.

Mossaad explains ACJPS's work documenting human rights violations and international crimes in Sudan, pursuing strategic litigation, and advocating at national, regional, and international levels. He discusses the organization's work with UN mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council, and its efforts to ens...

In this episode of the Just Access Podcast, host Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Alexa Magee, a human rights and international criminal law practitioner supporting Just Access’s work on Sudan. They discuss the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the devastating impact on Sudanese civilians, and why documenting violations committed by the SAF is a particular focus of the Just Access project.

Alexa explains how the project works with survivors to document their experiences and submit individual cases to UN human rights mechanisms, while also identifying broader pa...

In this episode of the Just Access Podcast, we continue our conversation with Paula Vargas, Associate at the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) in Bogotá, where she leads the organisation’s transitional justice work in Colombia and Latin America.

Paula discusses her work at IFIT, a think tank and NGO supporting countries moving from conflict to peace and from authoritarian rule to democracy. She explains how IFIT combines research, expert networks, policy advice, and practical support to help local actors address complex challenges related to peacebuilding and transitional justice.

The conversation explores how international exp...

In this episode of the Just Access Podcast, we speak with Paula Vargas, Associate at the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) in Bogotá, where she leads the organisation’s transitional justice work in Colombia and Latin America.

Paula shares her journey into human rights and access to justice, explaining how a personal encounter with barriers to reproductive healthcare first shaped her understanding that rights are not only legal concepts but lived realities shaped by culture, institutions, and power. She reflects on why access to justice is essential for peacebuilding and how the absence of justice can cre...

If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1, we recommend starting there, where Philip McDonagh introduces the foundations of diplomacy, human rights, and intercivilizational dialogue.

In this second part of our conversation with Philip McDonagh, former Irish diplomat and Director of the Centre for Religion, Human Values and International Relations at Dublin City University, we take a closer look at the practical work of intercivilizational dialogue and what it means to build peace in deeply divided societies.

Philip shares insights from the Intercivilizational Dialogue project led by Just Access, explaining why dialogue is not si...

In this first part of our conversation with Philip McDonagh, former Irish diplomat and Director of the Centre for Religion, Human Values and International Relations at Dublin City University, we explore the deeper values that underpin diplomacy, human rights, and peaceful coexistence. Drawing on his experience with the Good Friday Agreement, peacebuilding initiatives in South Asia, and diplomatic service across Europe and beyond, Philip explains why effective institutions depend on what he calls “pre-political” culture: the trust, relationships, and shared values that make cooperation possible before laws and politics take over.

The conversation examines the growing impo...

In this episode we have the honour to speak with Professor Michael O'Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe. From the UN in the former Yugoslavia to leading the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, O'Flaherty describes his role as a "field diplomat" committed to being on the ground where people hurt.

We discuss his four strategic priorities: Ukraine, global challenges (AI, climate, migration), championing marginalized communities (especially Roma), and protecting human rights defenders. O'Flaherty also critiques proposed social media bans for children, advocates for youth climate activism, and shares why he remains hopeful despite...

In this second part of our conversation, Dr. Miranda Melcher continues speaking with Sandra Berty about her latest work on violence against mothers—an often overlooked but critical dimension of gender-based violence.

Sandra shares insights from her recent submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, explaining why violence against mothers must be recognized as a distinct legal category. She unpacks how conflict disproportionately impacts mothers, from forced caregiving roles to the long-term consequences of forced pregnancy.

The conversation also explores how legal frameworks evolve, why naming specific harms matters for ju...

In this first part of our conversation, we speak with Sandra Berty, an international refugee law and gender-based violence specialist with more than a decade of experience working with UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM and the IRC across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the United States.

Sandra shares how her journey into this field began during law school, when she worked with women seeking asylum who had survived conflict-related sexual violence. That early experience shaped a career dedicated to supporting women and girls in displacement and emergency settings around the world.

Together, we...

How can national prosecutors bring justice for atrocities committed abroad?

In this episode, Ignacio Baeriswyl explains how domestic courts are increasingly stepping in to prosecute international crimes when global institutions cannot.

🎧 Episode Overview

In this episode Dr Miranda Melcher continues her conversation with Ignacio Baeriswyl, a Chile-qualified lawyer and PhD researcher at the University of Amsterdam. Building on the previous episode about his work at the International Criminal Court, Ignacio discusses his transition into academia and his doctoral research on an often overlooked actor in international criminal law: domestic prosecutors who pur...

🎧 Episode Overview

In this episode Dr Miranda Melcher speaks with Ignacio Baeriswyl, a Chile‑qualified lawyer who served as an associate legal officer in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Reparations Section and is currently a lecturer and PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam. Ignacio outlines his professional trajectory—from domestic economic criminal law in Chile to his work at the ICC—explains the functions and challenges of the reparations team, and discusses the structural limits of the Court’s jurisdiction and authority. He also offers practical guidance for individuals aspiring to work in international criminal justice.

In the second part of our conversation with Sabina Grigore, PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, we take a closer look at the discretionary power of prosecutors and how their decisions fundamentally shape access to justice.

Building on the discussion of domestic prosecutions of international crimes, this episode focuses on prosecutors as institutional gatekeepers. Sabina explains how prosecutorial discretion determines what evidence is included in a case, whose experiences are legally recognised as victimhood, and which cases ultimately reach a judge. These decisions, often made long before any courtroom proceedings begin, have profound implications for...

In this first part of our conversation with Sabina Grigore, PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, we explore how access to justice is shaped long before a case ever reaches a courtroom. Focusing on international criminal law and transitional justice, the episode examines the often-overlooked role of domestic prosecutors who investigate atrocity crimes committed beyond their borders.

Drawing on her PhD research, Sabina explains what it means to prosecute crimes from conflicts such as Syria and Ukraine at the national level in countries like Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands. She describes prosecutors as powerful...

In this second part of our conversation with Dr Fekri Dureab, physician-researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, we move from surveillance systems and misinformation to some of the most difficult questions in public health: hunger, disease preparedness, and ethical decision-making in conflict settings.

Drawing on his work in Yemen, Somalia, and Iraq, Dr Dureab explains why planning for outbreaks in fragile health systems is never just a technical exercise. Even when strategies exist on paper, a lack of resources, infrastructure, and trained personnel can turn predictable health threats—such as cholera or measles—into full...

n this episode, we sit down with Dr Fekri Dureab, a physician‑researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, to unpack how medical expertise, conflict‑zone realities, and the ever‑growing “info‑demic” intersect on the frontlines of public‑health work.

Drawing on his years of hands‑on experience in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and beyond, Dr Dureab walks us through the evolution of his career—from treating patients under a single‑lamp light to designing electronic disease‑early‑warning systems that still buzz in Yemen today. He explains why misinformation can be more lethal than a virus, how risk communication...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. José Reis, Research Analyst at the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center, and Dr. Marcel Garz, Associate Professor at Jönköping University in Sweden, about how media attention shapes states’ willingness to comply with human rights rulings.

Drawing on their 2024 article published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution, “Media Attention and Compliance with the European Court of Human Rights,” they delve deeper into their findings: how newspaper coverage of rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) increases both the likelihood and the speed of compliance — and why this ef...

In this episode, we begin our conversation with Dr. José Reis, Research Analyst at the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center, and Dr. Marcel Garz, Associate Professor at Jönköping University in Sweden, about how media attention influences compliance with human rights rulings.

Drawing on their 2024 article published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution, “Media Attention and Compliance with the European Court of Human Rights,” they explore whether — and how — media coverage of the European Court of Human Rights’ decisions can increase the likelihood that states actually comply with them.

They take us behind the scenes of the...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Joel Bakan, professor of law at the University of British Columbia, award-winning author, and filmmaker, about how corporate power continues to evolve — and threaten — democracy. Building on The Corporation and its sequel The New Corporation: How “Good” Corporations Are Bad for Democracy, Joel unpacks how the rise of so-called “good” corporations has deepened corporate influence over governments, society, and even our understanding of justice.

He explains how corporations’ new image as socially responsible actors has made it harder to regulate them, and how this shift has contributed to growing inequa...

In this episode, we speak with Joel Bakan, professor of law at the University of British Columbia, award-winning author, and filmmaker, about how corporate power continues to shape — and often undermine — democracy. Drawing on his bestselling book The Corporation and its sequel The New Corporation: How “Good” Corporations Are Bad for Democracy, Joel reflects on two decades of investigating how corporations influence our societies, politics, and the environment. He shares the story behind the original book and documentary, explains why he felt compelled to return with an “unfortunately necessary sequel,” and explores the contradiction between corporations’ “caring” image an...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Kathrin Zangerl, a pediatrician and global health researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, about why children must be at the center of climate change adaptation.

Drawing on her clinical experience in Germany and Nepal, as well as her recent Lancet Child & Adolescent Health article analyzing 160 national adaptation plans, Kathrin explains why children are disproportionately impacted by climate change yet remain largely absent from climate policy. She reflects on the political and justice dimensions of this gap, highlights what meaningful child participation could look like, and shares ideas...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Martin Perron, a lawyer and developer at the Government of Canada, about how Rules as Code can transform the way we understand and use law.

Martin explains how encoding legislation can help identify gaps, run simulations, and even power trustworthy government chatbots. He reflects on the promise of democratizing access to legal knowledge, shares concrete examples of how businesses and citizens could benefit, and offers practical ways for listeners to get involved in this emerging field.

What difference does it make to encode laws instead...

In this episode, we speak with Martin Perron, a lawyer and developer at the Government of Canada, about his unconventional path from law school to leading-edge work on Rules as Code.

They explore how coding and law can be combined to make legislation clearer, more accessible, and more trustworthy. Martin also reflects on the potential of neuro-symbolic AI in legal applications and offers candid advice for students and young professionals navigating diverse interests.

What does Rules as Code actually mean in practice? How can encoding legislation improve public understanding of complex legal obligations...

In this second part of our compelling discussion on peace and ceasefires, Dr. Miranda Melcher continues the conversation with Dr. Marika Sosnowski and Dr. Sanja Badanjak to explore the evolving landscape of ceasefires and peace agreements.

They reflect on key trends from the 2024 data in the PA-X Peace Agreements Database, including the growing shift from comprehensive peace agreements to more fragmented, piecemeal negotiations. Together, they unpack what this means for global peacebuilding, humanitarian outcomes, and public expectations.

Is a limited ceasefire better than no agreement at all? What should we look for in...

In this episode of the Just Access podcast, host Dr. Miranda Melcher dives into the complex world of ceasefires with two leading experts:

🧠 Dr. Marika Sosnowski, legal scholar and author of Redefining Ceasefires: Wartime Order and Statebuilding in Syria, and

📊 Dr. Sanja Badanjak, Data Director at PeaceRep and Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh Law School.

Together, they explore:

In this second half of our conversation, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Professor Dr. Chidi Oguamanam about the critical intersections of intellectual property, indigenous knowledge systems, and access to justice. Building on Part 1, this episode dives deep into the concept of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), its origins in the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the real-world implications of the Nagoya Protocol—or the lack thereof, particularly in Canada.

Professor Oguamanam shares compelling examples from South Africa and Canada, such as the Rooibos tea economy and partnerships with the Cree Nation, to illustrate how equitable research pra...

In this powerful first part of our conversation, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Professor Dr. Chidi Oguamanam—legal scholar, researcher, and global voice on sustainable bio-innovation, indigenous knowledge systems, and knowledge governance. Professor Oguamanam explores how intellectual property law is fundamentally an access to justice issue, drawing on his lived experience in rural Africa, his legal career, and academic work across law, science, and ethics.

Together, they unpack the conceptual divide between Western and indigenous models of knowledge production, the role of intellectual property in reinforcing inequality, and why recognizing traditional knowledge is essential for a fa...

In this episode of the Just Access podcast, host Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Luca Brocca, a master’s student in European Studies at KU Leuven and a long-time member of Just Access. Luca discusses his journey from academic theory to impactful practice in the human rights field through his work with Just Access.

Luca has worn many hats in the organization over the past two years: from legal intern to blog author, to Just Access representative to the UNCAC Coalition (UN Convention against Corruption), and formerly to the OSCE Network. He shares insights into what th...

In Part 2 of our compelling conversation, Professors Jane Bailey and Valerie Steeves continue to unpack the complex realities of surveillance, privacy, and children’s rights in the digital age. Building on their extensive research and advocacy through The eQuality Project, they explore how tech design, gender, and systemic bias intersect in online environments—and what it means for youth today.

Together, we examine:

In this thought-provoking episode, we speak with Professors Jane Bailey and Valerie Steeves, co-leaders of The eQuality Project, a pioneering initiative focused on young people’s experiences of privacy and equality in digitally networked environments.

Part 1 of our conversation dives into how surveillance is normalized in educational and social media contexts, why that matters for youth, and what needs to change in how we approach children’s digital rights. Jane and Valerie reflect on how their research with young people sheds light on the disconnect between adult perceptions of digital safety and the real concerns youth expr...

In this second part of our conversation with the Just Access Strategic Litigation team, Dr. Miranda Melcher continues her in-depth discussion with Dr. Tom Sparks and Dr. Lucas Sanchez about Just Access’s groundbreaking communication to four UN Special Rapporteurs. The communication addresses critical gaps in Germany’s climate change adaptation policies, specifically regarding children’s rights and the inclusion of human rights-based frameworks.

This episode dives deep into:

In this powerful episode, Dr. Miranda Melcher is joined by Dr. Tom Sparks (Director of Just Access) and Dr. Lucas Sanchez (Head of Strategic Litigation at Just Access) for the first part of a two-part conversation exploring the intersection of climate change adaptation, children’s rights, and international law.

Together, they break down a groundbreaking communication that Just Access is submitting to multiple UN Special Rapporteurs, challenging Germany’s approach to climate adaptation for its failure to adequately protect children.

You’ll learn:

🌍 The difference between climate change mitigation and adaptation

⚖️ Why...

🎙️ Host: Dr. Miranda Melcher

🎙️ Guest: Professor Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change

In this second part of our conversation with Professor Elisa Morgera, we dive deeper into the intersection of climate change and human rights, particularly focusing on the vulnerability of children. We also explore:

🌍 How industries contribute to climate change and the role of regulation

👶 The specific human rights challenges children face due to climate change

📜 The UN Special Rapporteur’s communication procedures and how individuals can raise concerns

💡 How listeners can engage...

🌍 Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Just Access Podcast, Dr. Miranda Melcher sits down with Professor Elisa Morgera to explore the critical intersections between climate change and human rights. As the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change, Professor Morgera provides a deep dive into her role, the challenges of addressing climate change through a human rights lens, and the need for stronger collaboration between legal, environmental, and scientific communities.

Key topics include:

✅ What it means to be a UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change

✅ How climate change is a human r...

In this episode, Dr. Miranda Melcher continues her insightful discussion with Amy Rose, the Global Director of Litigation, Governance, and Legal Services at ClientEarth. Amy shares her expertise on the evolving landscape of climate litigation, the challenges of systemic change, and the innovative strategies used to address the world’s most pressing environmental issues.

From groundbreaking human rights cases to biodiversity protection and sustainable food systems, Amy reveals the intricate processes behind ClientEarth’s work and highlights the role of strategic litigation in creating impactful change. The conversation also touches on gaps in access to justice and...

In this episode of the Just Access Podcast, host Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Amy Rose, the Global Director of Litigation, Governance, and Legal Services at ClientEarth. ClientEarth is a world-leading environmental organization that uses the law to tackle pressing environmental challenges.

In this first part of their conversation, Amy shares her journey into law—from her beginnings in political science to her global career in litigation, including her impactful work at ClientEarth. They explore:

•The evolution of Amy’s career, from commercial litigation to environmental advocacy.

•The power of strategic litigati...