Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations

Professor Terry Coonan is the Founder and Executive Director of the Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights and Associate Professor of Criminology at Florida State University. Terry has created an interdisciplinary home for students and faculty working across law, film, social work, religion, and public service. Before he founded the FSU Center, Terry was one of Professor Bert B. Lockwood's students at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He was also an Urban Morgan Fellow and the Managing Editor of Human Rights Quarterly, for which he was selected as the first UMI Fellow for the U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program. Over the decades, their relationship evolved from professor and student to colleagues and lifelong friends. Growing up, Meredith always knew Terry for his warmth, humility, and one of the most contagious laughs you'll ever hear. His work has taken him from Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship to immigration courts in the United States. Today, he continues to represent refugee and immigrant families facing immense challenges within the U.S. legal system. Along the way, he has trained judges, partnered with journalists, and worked with filmmakers to expand how human rights are taught and practiced. This conversation explores the experiences that shaped Terry's life and career. We discuss why he believes human rights are too important to be left to lawyers alone. This is an important episode that highlights the ongoing hardships facing refugees and asylum seekers in a rapidly changing world. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript Here Professor Terry Coonan: Executive Director, Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights Threshold: A Dance Film: Produced by Professor Malia Bruker and choreographed by Professor Ilana Goldman, Threshold is a 360-degree dance film commissioned by the Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights. Drawing on the experiences of survivors of wartime sexual violence, sex trafficking, and other gender-based human rights violations, the film explores trauma, resilience, and healing through movement. Interdisciplinary Human Rights Major, FSU: Florida State University's interdisciplinary undergraduate major brings together courses across multiple disciplines and reflects the Center's belief that human rights are too important to be left to lawyers alone. Human Rights Quarterly Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights, University of Cincinnati College of Law

Professor Manfred Nowak has helped shape international human rights law for more than four decades. An Austrian human rights lawyer, academic, and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred has spent his career investigating some of the world's most hidden human rights violations. His work has taken him into prisons, detention centers, and conflict zones across the globe. Along the way, he has listened to the stories of torture survivors, families searching for disappeared loved ones, and children living without freedom. Those experiences would go on to shape both his scholarship and advocacy, including his leadership of the landmark United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty. Today, he serves as Secretary General of the Global Campus of Human Rights. Their longstanding connection extends to the University of Pennsylvania Press. Manfred is the author of Human Rights or Global Capitalism: The Limits of Privatization, published in the Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights series, where Professor Bert B. Lockwood serves as Series Editor. In this conversation, Manfred reflects on the moments and people that shaped his understanding of justice, dignity, and human rights. We discuss what it means to deprive a child of liberty and why those systems often remain hidden from public view. You'll hear us explore the role of human rights education and the importance of artistic freedom.  We focus on the challenges facing the international human rights movement at a time of growing global instability. We are especially grateful to Manfred for sharing personal reflections from his decades of human rights work, including his firsthand experiences interviewing torture survivors and children deprived of liberty. His insights offer a rare window into both the progress that has been made and the work that still lies ahead. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript Here Professor Manfred Nowak, Global Campus of Human Rights Manfred Nowak, Independent Expert for the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty Report & Books Report: United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty Human Rights or Global Capitalism: The Limits of Privatization Torture: An Expert's Confrontation with an Everyday Evil The Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights

We are so lucky to welcome Brian Derrick, Founder of Oath, to the show. Oath is a data-driven political giving platform designed to help donors make more strategic decisions about where to direct their contributions. By analyzing thousands of races across the country, Oath helps donors identify candidates and campaigns to support. Brian is one of Meredith's favorite go-to political strategists, helping people navigate complex political issues and election cycles through his trusted whiteboard breakdowns. Our conversation begins with shared Ohio roots, from the University of Cincinnati to Ohio State University, before turning to some of the most pressing political questions facing the United States today. We explore the continued dismantling of the Voting Rights Act and the growing impact of gerrymandering across the South. Together, we examine Trump’s escalating corruption, the influence of billionaire money in politics, and the role media algorithms increasingly play in shaping public opinion. The conversation also explores voter engagement, Latino voting trends, the future of the Democratic Party, and why helping people believe politics can improve their lives remains one of the most important challenges facing American democracy today. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript Here Brian Derrick & Oath Oath Website - Become a Donor  Follow Brian Derrick on Instagram: @brianderrick Follow Oath on Instagram: oath.vote Politico Magazine featuring Brian Derrick's Interview, “Democrats Have a Billionaire Problem. This App Is Trying to Fix It." Voting Rights & Democracy The New York Times Editorial Board, “There Has Never Been an Example of Presidential Corruption Like This” Business Insider,“Viral ‘Last Breath of the Confederacy’ Speech Puts Louisiana Man on Political Map” Podcasts The Right for Your Vote to Count Podcast: Featuring Brian Derrick Stacey Abrams' Podcast, Assembly Required: Episode: “How SCOTUS Is Erasing Black Voters” featuring Abby Phillip Episode: “What’s Next for Voting Rights and Why Activism Matters” featuring Jane Fonda  

Today we are joined by Professor Tara Van Ho, a leading scholar in the field of business and human rights whose work examines the growing intersection of corporate power, economic inequality, international law, and human dignity. Tara is a Professor of Law and Director of the International Legal Studies Program at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Prior to joining St. Mary’s, she taught at the University of Essex School of Law and worked closely with the Essex Human Rights Centre, one of the most influential institutions in the development of modern international human rights law. Her scholarship and advocacy have focused on corporate accountability, climate justice, investor-state dispute settlement, and the responsibilities of multinational corporations under international law. This conversation also carries a special connection for us personally. Tara is a fellow Ohioan from Cleveland, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and a former fellow of the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights. Throughout the episode, we reflect not only on the evolution of the business and human rights movement, but also on the importance of mentorship, community, and the shaping the next generation of human rights scholars and advocates. We dive into growing legal and moral questions surrounding climate accountability, and why business and human rights has become one of the most important and rapidly evolving areas of international law today. Tara also shares insights into her own path into the field, her experience studying under pioneers of human rights law, and how legal education can help students think critically about systems of power, governance, and justice in an increasingly interconnected world. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript Here Professor Tara Van Ho: St. Mary’s University School of Law Faculty Profile Academic Journal Article George, E., Martin, J. and Van Ho, T., (2021). Reckoning: A Dialogue about Racism, AntiRacists, and Business & Human Rights Human Rights Quarterly: Defining the Relationships: "Cause, Contribute, and Directly Linked to" in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by Tara Van Ho Resources Business and Human Rights Resource Centre Essex University: Human Rights Centre UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights The Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice - University of Cincinnati 

Iain Guest is a journalist, human rights advocate, founder of The Advocacy Project, and former adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where he taught human rights after decades of work across international media, the United Nations, and grassroots advocacy movements around the world. From documenting disappearances in Argentina and producing BBC documentaries, to working with the United Nations in Cambodia and Haiti, Iain’s career has consistently focused on amplifying the voices of communities directly affected by violence, repression, and conflict. Iain and Professor Bert Lockwood first came to know one another through Iain’s early manuscript on Argentina’s Dirty War, which became the first book published in the University of Pennsylvania Press Human Rights Series edited by Professor Bert Lockwood. Their friendship and shared commitment to international human rights work continues throughout this conversation. In this episode, we reflect on disappearances from Argentina to Nepal, the evolution of international accountability mechanisms, the role of the United Nations, and the importance of survivor-led advocacy rooted in local communities and historical memory. This conversation was recorded on April 1st, 2026, several weeks before we lost Theo van Boven on May 9th at the age of 91. Theo, the pioneering Dutch human rights scholar and former UN official, was a dear friend and colleague to both Iain and Bert, and his work and influence are reflected throughout much of this episode. He will be deeply missed. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript PDF The Advocacy Project Founded by Iain Guest in 1998, The Advocacy Project partners directly with grassroots organizations and survivor-led movements around the world, supporting community-driven initiatives focused on transitional justice, storytelling, reparations, education, advocacy, and historical memory. The Advocacy Project: Grassroots Grants Campaign Behind the Disappearances: Argentina’s Dirty War Against Human Rights and the United Nations: University of Pennsylvania Press Theo van Boven: A former Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, and one of the central architects of modern international human rights accountability mechanisms. International Commission of Jurists — Tribute to Theo van Boven Professor Cees Flinterman: Maastricht University  

Professor Richard Ashby Wilson joins us for a timely and important conversation on human rights, hate crime enforcement, authoritarianism, and the widening gap between laws written on paper and justice experienced in everyday life. A longtime colleague and friend of Professor Bert B. Lockwood, Richard is currently Professor of Anthropology and Co-Director of the Princeton University Human Rights Initiative. Prior to Princeton, he founded and directed the Human Rights Institute at the University of Connecticut, where Bert also serves on the board. One of the world’s leading legal anthropologists, Richard is the author of eleven books examining transitional justice, international criminal tribunals, incitement, and the failures and possibilities of legal systems. Richard’s journey into human rights began in 1983 when, as an 18-year-old pre-med student at Johns Hopkins University, he learned that U.S. tax dollars were funding death squads in Central America. That moment changed the course of his life and led him into anthropology, determined to document stories and communities too often ignored or erased from public view. Over the next four decades, his work would take him from Mayan communities rebuilding after genocide in Guatemala to South African townships navigating the aftermath of apartheid and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In this episode, we discuss Richard’s groundbreaking research on hate crime enforcement in the United States and the alarming reality that, despite more than 150 years of hate crime legislation, only a small percentage of actual hate crimes are ever charged or prosecuted. We explore why targeted communities often do not trust the systems meant to protect them, how police discretion and prosecutorial practices shape outcomes, and what these failures reveal in America today. Also, we discuss Richard's work helping draft hate crime reform legislation in Connecticut, as well as the growing pressures facing democratic institutions around the world. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript PDF Professor Richard Asby Wilson, Princeton University Department of Anthropology Princeton University Human Rights Initiative UConn Human Rights Institute Key Publications and Scholarship The (Non)Enforcement of Hate Crime Laws in the United States, Richard Ashby Wilson, Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 2025 New Legal Realism at 20: Rethinking Law in an Era of Populism and Social Movements Richard Ashby Wilson, Jeffrey Omari, and Pablo Rueda-Saiz, Connecticut Law Review, 2024 Incitement on Trial: Prosecuting International Speech Crimes Richard Ashby Wilson, Cambridge University Press, 2017 Writing History in International Criminal Trials Richard Ashby Wilson, Cambridge University Press, 2011 The Politics of Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa Richard Ashby Wilson, Cambridge University Press, 2001 Maya Resurgence in Guatemala: Q’eqchi’ Experiences Richard Ashby Wilson, University of Oklahoma Press, 1995 Hate Crime Laws & Reform House Bill 6872: An Act Revising and Consolidating the Hate Crimes Statutes UConn Today Law: UConn Law Professors Lead Drafting of New Proposed Hate Crimes Bill Organizations to Support Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) ACLU: Immigrants’ Rights National Immigration Law Center  

We are thrilled to welcome Professor Dina Francesca Haynes, Executive Director of the Schell Center for International Human Rights at Yale Law School, and a nationally recognized expert in immigration and refugee law, human trafficking, and gender and conflict. Her work has taken her to some of the world’s most challenging environments, including Rwanda, Bosnia, and Afghanistan, where she worked alongside international institutions to support displaced communities and strengthen legal protections in fragile settings. She has clerked on the Constitutional Court of South Africa and represented hundreds of clients seeking asylum in the United States, bringing both legal rigor and compassion to her practice. Dina studied under Professor Bert Lockwood as both a student and an Urban Morgan Human Rights Fellow at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, a connection that makes this conversation especially meaningful across generations. Dina has spent her career showing up, in airports, in courtrooms, in conflict zones, and in classrooms, and the body of work she has built stands as a powerful testament to what conviction, courage, and compassion can achieve. In our conversation, she shares insight into the realities facing migrants and asylum seekers, the legal challenges shaping immigration policy today, and the responsibility lawyers carry when institutions are under strain. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript PDF Professor Dina Francesca Haynes, Executive Director, Schell Center for International Human Rights, Yale Law School Schell Center for International Human Rights, Yale Law School Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights, University of Cincinnati College of Law Books On the Frontlines: Gender, War, and the Post-Conflict Process, Oxford University Press Handbook on Gender and Conflict: Edited by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Naomi Cahn, Dina Francesca Haynes, and Nahla Valji, Oxford University Press Article Celebritizations of Human Rights: Dina Francesca Haynes: This article examines how celebrity advocacy can shape public attention, policy conversations, and funding priorities in the human rights field, while also raising important questions about representation, accountability, and the voices of affected communities.  

In this episode of Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations, we welcome Professor Joe Tomain, former Dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and the Wilbert and Helen Ziegler Professor of Law, a distinguished scholar in energy law and policy and a longtime colleague and supporter of the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights. Drawing on decades of leadership in higher education and public policy, Professor Tomain reflects on the evolving relationship between energy systems, climate policy, and democratic governance. Our conversation explores the increasing demands on energy infrastructure driven by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data centers, and the policy choices that will shape environmental sustainability and economic stability in the decades ahead. We also revisit a defining historical experience shared by Professor Tomain and Professor Bert Lockwood – traveling to South Africa in 1994 as legal observers during the country’s first democratic elections, when citizens, including hospital patients, waited patiently in long lines to cast their ballots in the country’s first democratic vote. Together, this conversation offers thoughtful reflection on leadership, public service, and the responsibilities of institutions navigating the interconnected challenges of energy, climate, and democracy. Show Notes Professor Joe Tomain: University of Cincinnati College of Law Books and Publications Referenced Energy Law and Policy (4th Edition, 2026) Joseph P. Tomain, Lincoln L. Davies, Alexandra B. Klass, Uma Outka, Hari M. Osofsky, Elizabeth J. Wilson Energy Law in a Nutshell (4th Edition, 2022) A foundational text examining the structure of modern energy systems and the transition toward clean and net-zero energy policy. Smart Energy Paths: How Willie Nelson Saved the Planet (2006) Joseph P. Tomain Institutions Referenced Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights — University of Cincinnati College of Law International Commission of Jurists

This week, we welcome Professor Mark Gibney to the show. Mark Gibney is the Carol G. Belk Distinguished Professor at UNC Asheville, longtime director of the Political Terror Scale, and one of the leading voices in international human rights scholarship. He is a longtime friend and colleague of Professor Bert Lockwood, marking more than 40 years of friendship this year. Meredith’s own friendship with Mark is rooted in a shared passion for storytelling through human rights film and documentary, which frames this conversation. In this episode, we explore the intersection of human rights, storytelling, and global accountability through the lens of Mark’s extraordinary career. We discuss the Political Terror Scale and the role of data in documenting torture, disappearances, political imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings, as well as his recent scholarship calling for a more nuanced system of graded responsibility in international law. We also examine the power of film as a human rights tool through Mark’s course on human rights cinema and a wide-ranging discussion of documentaries, including The Alabama Solution, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, Collective, and Darwin’s Nightmare. Together, we reflect on how film can expose hidden abuses, humanize legal frameworks, and expand public understanding in ways traditional institutions sometimes cannot. Grounding the conversation in the realities of this moment, we also discuss human rights challenges unfolding in the United States and around the world, from democratic backsliding and prison abuses to the crises in Iran and Palestine, and where Mark sees possibilities for accountability and change. We hope this discussion encourages our listeners to reflect on how one measures injustice, how we bear witness, and how law, storytelling, and civic engagement can work together in the pursuit of international human rights. Show Notes Episode Transcript PDF Professor Mark Gibney, UNC Asheville Political Terror Scale (PTS) “Taking Human Rights Obligations (More) Seriously,” Human Rights Quarterly (Vol. 47, 2025) Films & Documentaries  The Alabama Solution Mr. Nobody Against Putin Collective Darwin’s Nightmare Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk The Lives of Others Flint’s Deadly Water, Frontline PBS Video Resources & Article AP News Article: Sonny Burton’s commutation Epstein Exposed

"The theater places stories in front of hearts and minds as an experience that is living and transforming." These words from award-winning playwright and librettist Catherine Filloux capture the visceral power of the arts in the pursuit of human rights. For over 30 years, Catherine has used her creative compass to navigate the complexities of genocide, displacement, and environmental justice. An alumna of New Dramatists who received her M.F.A. at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Catherine has been honored with the 2019 Barry Lopez Visiting Writer in Ethics and Community Fellowship and the 2017 Otto René Castillo Award for Political Theatre. In this episode, the conversation explores Catherine’s prolific body of work, which spans from the history of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia to the urgent, present-day crisis of climate change. As a co-founder of Theatre Without Borders, Catherine has spent decades building bridges between artists in conflict zones, ensuring that dialogue survives even when legal and political structures fail. Having taught playwriting at institutions including Vassar, Wesleyan, and Bennington College, she brings a deep pedagogical perspective to how we witness history through performance. The discussion examines the three-dimensional prism of the stage and the unique chemistry of a live audience. Catherine also shares the inspiration behind her newest play, Olivia, which centers on a mother-daughter rift over fossil fuel dependency; a theme that resonates deeply with the intergenerational mission of this podcast. From the "oil spilled rainbows" of environmental destruction to the "psychosomatic blindness" of war survivors, Catherine’s work serves as a form of accountability and a source of hope. She transforms the stage to become more than a space for performance, but a vital instrument of accountability, transforming the most complex global crises into a shared, human experience. Show Notes Episode Transcript PDF Catherine Filloux Website Theatre Without Borders Catherine Filloux Archive, held at the Ohio State University Libraries Resources and References Fellow Travelers Opera: 10 year anniversary Sir Trevor McDonald Interview: A raw perspective on systemic issues through interviews with incarcerated women in America

We are honored to welcome Lacey Stone to Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations. As the Chief Development Officer at USA for UNHCR, the U.S. partner of the United Nations Refugee Agency, she works at the intersection of philanthropy, partnerships, and global humanitarian impact. With more than two decades of experience across organizations, including UNICEF USA, PATH, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Lacey has built a career grounded in connecting people, resources, and ideas to create meaningful change. In this conversation, Lacey shares what it means to bear witness to the stories of refugee women and girls and to help translate those stories into action, visibility, and support. We discuss the DAFI scholarship program, the Building Better Futures campaign, and the urgent need to invest in higher education, mentorship, and wraparound support for refugee women and girls as they rebuild their lives and strengthen their communities. Lacey also reflects on the evolving nature of philanthropy, from transactional giving to transformational partnerships, and why storytelling must remain at the center of that shift. This episode is a powerful reminder that education is more than access. It is dignity, agency, leadership, and a pathway toward long-term change. From Lacey’s own journey as a first-generation college student to Bert’s perspective on the legal evolution of the 1951 Refugee Convention, this episode examines what happens when philanthropy becomes a relational partnership aimed at fueling the next generation of global leadership. We encourage our listeners to take action by supporting USA for UNHCR and the Building Better Futures initiative. By contributing, you are providing more than a scholarship; you are ensuring that courageous students have the resources to secure their human rights, reclaim their narratives, and build a more equitable future for displaced communities worldwide. Show Notes Show Transcript PDF USA for UNHCR USA for UNHCR Website UNHCR Donate Building Better Futures Building Better Futures Video  DAFI Scholarship Program 2024 DAFI Annual Report Referenced in Conversation Article: Fundraising Wasn’t Built for Women. So We Built Something New, Inside Philanthropic Study Trust (UNHCR partner in South Africa)

This week, we welcome Dr. Xanthe Scharff to the show. She is the Managing Director for External Affairs and Editor-at-Large at the Freedom Fund, where she works to strengthen global efforts to end modern slavery by supporting and investing in frontline partners who are closest to the problem and best positioned to drive lasting change within their own communities. With more than 20 years of experience across journalism, research, and nonprofit leadership, Xanthe brings a powerful perspective to this work, one grounded in storytelling, partnership, and systems change. At the Freedom Fund, she plays a critical role in advancing solutions that address the often hidden and disproportionate exploitation of women and girls, ensuring that local leaders have the resources, visibility, and support they need to prevent exploitation and help survivors rebuild their lives. In our conversation, Xanthe helps unpack the reality that modern slavery is not a thing of the past, but a growing global crisis, with an estimated 50 million people affected worldwide. From forced labor and domestic servitude to trafficking within the United States and the complexities of global supply chains, she brings clarity to both the scale of the issue and the pathways toward sustainable change. She also reflects on her earlier work as co-founder of the Fuller Project, where she helped reshape how stories about women are told and understood across the globe. This episode is an invitation to deepen awareness and to take meaningful action by supporting organizations like the Freedom Fund and the courageous frontline leaders working every day to prevent exploitation, protect human dignity, and build safer futures for women and girls around the world. Show Notes: Show Transcript PDF The Freedom Fund 2025–2030 Strategic Plan To Make a Donation Research Library Featured Article ‘Invisible’ children born in the brothels of Bangladesh finally get birth certificates, The Guardian National Human Trafficking Hotline Call: 1-888-373-7888 Text: 233733 Website Learn More U.S. National Human Trafficking Prevention Month 1926 Slavery Convention: 100th Anniversary The Fuller Project - Website Further Reading & Resources Women’s Empowerment and Child Labor in Cocoa: Ghana & Côte d’Ivoire Child Labor is Helping Power the Clean Energy Transition Voice of Change Podcast, “Empowering Change: The Syrian Women’s Political Movement” Bonded by Brick documentary, The Centrum Media

In this episode of Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations, we are joined by Julie Leftwich, founder of the International Peace and Security Initiative at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a deeply respected voice in peacebuilding, international law, and human rights. Julie brings to this conversation a remarkable body of work shaped by years of engagement with conflict, diplomacy, refugee and immigrant rights, and the urgent questions facing our world today. She speaks with extraordinary candor and moral clarity about the realities of this moment, from freedom to protest and immigration to the human stakes of conflict and peacebuilding. Our conversation also explores the vision behind the International Peace and Security Initiative, which is dedicated to preparing and mentoring the next generation of leaders committed to global justice, international cooperation, and conflict resolution. Julie reflects on the importance of education, dialogue, and principled leadership in a world that increasingly demands all three. This is a powerful and thoughtful episode, and we are grateful to Julie for the generosity, conviction, and firsthand insight she brought to the conversation. SHOW NOTES Transcript PDF Support and Donate to the International Peace and Security Initiative at the University of Cincinnati College of Law Click Here to Donate Julie Leftwich's Website Judge Thomas Buergenthal, memoir: A Lucky Child

Professor Mark Godsey has spent his career confronting one of the most profound human rights failures within the legal system: the incarceration of innocent people. A former federal prosecutor and longtime professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Mark is the co-founder and director of the Ohio Innocence Project, one of the nation’s leading innocence organizations. Through his work alongside students and legal advocates, he has helped secure freedom for individuals who collectively lost more than 900 years of their lives to imprisonment for crimes they did not commit. In this powerful conversation, Mark reflects on his transformation from prosecutor to advocate, the systemic forces that contribute to wrongful convictions, and the urgent need for reform. He also shares how storytelling, including his book Blind Justice and the opera Blind Injustice, has helped bring national attention to the human cost of injustice. This episode offers a profound look at justice, accountability, and the role each of us can play in protecting fundamental human rights. Show Notes Show Transcript PDF: available here This episode was recorded in mid-2025. We encourage listeners to support the ongoing work of the Ohio Innocence Project and organizations nationwide dedicated to defending the rights of innocent individuals. Professor Mark Godsey: Faculty Profile, University of Cincinnati College of Law Author, Blind Justice: A Former Prosecutor Exposes the Psychology and Politics of Wrongful Convictions Ohio Innocence Project Learn more and donate: https://foundation.uc.edu/OIP Ohio Innocence Project 20th Anniversary Video Innocence Project (National) Blind Injustice Opera: A groundbreaking opera based on the stories of Ohio Innocence Project exonerees Articles and Media Coverage The New Yorker: “An Opera for the Wrongfully Convicted” The New York Times: “‘Blind Injustice,’ an Opera Inspired by Exonerees”    

In this powerful multigenerational conversation, we are honored to welcome our dear friend and civil rights attorney Leah Watson, whose work at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) places her at the forefront of defending constitutional rights and advancing racial justice across the United States. Leah’s advocacy focuses on protecting freedom in education, challenging classroom censorship, and confronting systemic inequities embedded within our legal and social systems. Leah’s path to this work reflects both excellence and intention. After studying at Vanderbilt University and earning her law degree from Harvard Law School, she began her career in corporate litigation before making the decision to dedicate her legal expertise to public interest law. Her work now addresses some of the most urgent civil rights issues of our time, including anti-DEI legislation, racial disparities in education and healthcare, and the protection of free expression. This conversation also explores the personal experiences that shape Leah’s commitment to justice. Raised by two physicians and deeply influenced by family, mentorship, and lived experience, Leah brings both intellectual rigor and profound humanity to her work. Her integrity, clarity of purpose, and unwavering dedication to justice have been a meaningful source of inspiration in my own life. This conversation offers both timely insight and enduring perspective on the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Leah’s story reminds us that the work of justice is carried forward through personal commitment and grows through collective action. Show Notes This episode was recorded in 2025, and we encourage listeners to support the ACLU’s ongoing work defending fundamental rights. You can learn more and donate here: ACLU Donate Page Show Transcript PDF: available here Books, Articles, and Academic References Leah Watson: “The Anti-‘Critical Race Theory’ Campaign: Classroom Censorship and Racial Backlash by Another Name” Leah Watson: “We Have to Reclaim Race and Racism” (ACLU) Deborah Archer: President of the ACLU, her book, Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality Aryeh Neier: Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Human Rights New Kid by Jerry Craft Paul Castle, author and illustrator Pringle & Finn (The Pengrooms) by Paul Castle Human Rights Quarterly (HRQ) — A leading academic journal focused on human rights law, policy, and practice worldwide People and Organizations Mentioned James McClure: South African journalist and novelist (1939–2006) best known for his Kramer and Zondi detective series, which examined the realities of apartheid-era South Africa through crime fiction and explored themes of race, justice, and inequality. Author page: https://sohopress.com/authors/james-mcclure/

Today, we welcome Professor Bill Schabas, one of the world's foremost scholars of international criminal law and genocide, joining us from his farmhouse in France. Bill has devoted his career to defining, investigating, and prosecuting mass atrocity crimes. He served with the tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, advised the International Criminal Court, and chaired the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict. He is the author of Genocide in International Law, now in its third edition, a foundational text that has shaped how the international community understands and responds to genocide. His work spans from the abolition of the death penalty to uncovering the racial dimensions of warfare, including groundbreaking research into the treatment of African troops during the World Wars. In this conversation, my dad and I reflect on shared memories with Bill, including a cherished evening in his Galway kitchen that brought together Sister Helen Prejean and Ireland's future president, Michael D. Higgins. We discuss his lifetime of scholarship and public service, the role of student activism in advancing human rights, and the critical challenges facing international institutions in our current political moment. Bill reminds us that personal relationships and intimate gatherings often sit quietly behind the most important public work, and that rigorous scholarship must always serve the pursuit of justice. SHOW NOTES: Episode Transcript: Full transcript (PDF) available here. Further Reading & Viewing: Genocide in International Law by William Schabas (3rd edition) In Memoriam by Alice Winn (novel about WWI) Dead Man Walking Sister: Documentary film about Sister Helen Organizations & Resources Musicians for Human Rights University of Galway (formerly National University of Ireland, Galway): Irish Centre for Human Rights

Jewher Ilham joins us for a powerful conversation about family, justice, and the cost of repression. She is a Uyghur human rights advocate and the daughter of Ilham Tohti, an economist and professor who dedicated his life to peaceful dialogue and advocacy for the Uyghur community and was later unjustly sentenced to life in prison by the Chinese government. As a father-daughter podcast, this conversation carries particular meaning, centering the enduring bond between parent and child in the face of forced separation. In this episode, Jewher reflects on her relationship with her father, the moment her life changed, and the lasting impact of his imprisonment on her family and community. She speaks about identity, cultural erasure, and the responsibility of bearing witness when voices are silenced. We discuss the documentary All Static & Noise, which tells Jewher’s story and examines the personal and political consequences of her father’s imprisonment and the broader repression of Uyghur communities. As of today, February 7, All Static & Noise is available to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Jewher also shares her work with the Worker Rights Consortium, where she focuses on forced labor and accountability within global supply chains connected to the Uyghur Region. SHOW NOTES Transcript, a full PDF transcript of this episode is available. All Static & Noise, available on Apple TV & Amazon Prime starting February 7th, 2026 Worker Rights Consortium  2025 College Freedom Forum, Tufts University - Jewher’s Speech Tibet in Song - Documentary  

In this first episode of 2026, Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations, we welcome Professor Roger Clark, one of the world’s leading figures in international criminal law and human rights. Over a distinguished career that included more than four decades teaching at Rutgers University Law School, Professor Clark educated generations of lawyers while contributing directly to the development of international legal institutions. His work has shaped how the global community understands crimes against humanity, accountability, and the role of mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court in pursuing justice. Recorded about a year ago, this conversation remains strikingly timely. Professor Clark reflects on the evolution of international criminal law, the promise and limitations of the ICC, nuclear weapons and environmental justice, student protest movements past and present, and the growing challenges facing the international human rights system. The episode also captures a deeply personal dimension. To date, Roger Clark and Bert Lockwood have celebrated fifty-four years of friendship, a relationship that has grown alongside the evolution of modern international human rights law. Their shared history offers a rare window into the people, ideas, and institutions that have shaped the field over the last half-century. Show Notes Episode Transcript A full PDF transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.fireonthebluff.com/sites/fireonthebluff.com/files/HRP_Roger_Clark_Episode_final.pdf People Referenced Theo van Boven Dutch human rights pioneer and former UN Special Rapporteur, instrumental in advancing international accountability for gross human rights violations. Mohamed ElBaradei Former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his work on nuclear nonproliferation. Toine van Dongen Dutch diplomat and international legal scholar with long-standing contributions to international law and human rights. Related Publications Cees Flinterman: Publications Changing Perceptions of Sovereignty and Human Rights Liber Amicorum, co-edited scholarly volume. Innovation and Inspiration: Fifty Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Co-edited scholarly volume examining the evolution and impact of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Places Recommended Soeboer Indonesian Restaurant, The Hague https://www.soeboer.nl/ Contact If you have suggestions for future guests or topics, we would love to hear from you. Email: www.meredithlockwood.com

In this episode of Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations, we are honored to welcome Professor Cees Flinterman, one of the most respected figures in international human rights law and one of Professor Bert Lockwood’s oldest friends and collaborators. Their friendship began in 1970 while studying in the graduate law program at the University of Virginia, an experience that helped shape parallel careers devoted to building human rights institutions, education, and global norms. Cees reflects on a career that spans academia, diplomacy, and international human rights bodies. He shares formative experiences teaching and working in Ghana during a period of military rule, contributing to the Netherlands’ first human rights–centered foreign policy, and serving as head of delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights and the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the practical realities of implementing human rights in complex political contexts. The discussion also explores Cees’s work with UN treaty bodies, including his service on the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the UN Human Rights Committee, as well as his collaboration with figures such as Theo van Boven and Nigel Rodley. From drafting early resolutions on China and Tibet to advancing economic, social, and cultural rights, Cees offers rare insight into how international human rights norms are built, defended, and sustained over time. At its heart, this episode is a reflection on friendship, institutional memory, and the long arc of legal change. Through personal stories and global experience, Cees reminds us why optimism, persistence, and human connection remain essential to the practice of human rights. SHOW NOTES Holiday Programming Note We will be taking a brief two-week break for the holiday season. Our next episode of Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations will be released on January 9, 2026. We wish our listeners and community a warm and restful holiday season.   Cees Flinterman’s Publications Professor Flinterman has co-edited and contributed to major works in international human rights law, including Changing Perceptions of Sovereignty and Human Rights: Essays in Honour of Cees Flinterman, edited by Ineke Boerefijn and J. E. Goldschmidt, and Innovation and Inspiration: Fifty Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, co-edited with Peter R. Baehr and Mignon Sender Toine van Dongen Toine van Dongen was a Dutch human rights lawyer and advocate whose work focused on equality, non-discrimination, and the practical application of human rights law in the Netherlands and internationally. Mohamed ElBaradei Mohamed ElBaradei is an Egyptian lawyer and diplomat who served as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and was jointly awarded the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to prevent the use of nuclear energy for military purposes and to promote peaceful nuclear cooperation. Theo van Boven Theo van Boven is an emeritus professor of international law and human rights whose leadership within the United Nations and Dutch foreign policy helped advance accountability for torture and other gross human rights violations. Soeboer Indonesian Restaurant, The Hague Soeboer is an Indonesian restaurant in The Hague referenced in the episode.

We are honored to welcome Professor Rebecca J. Cook, a pioneering scholar whose work has transformed women’s human rights and reproductive justice around the world. Rebecca has also been a close friend of our family for more than thirty years, first connecting with my father, Professor Bert B. Lockwood, through her contributions to Human Rights Quarterly and the University of Pennsylvania Press human rights book series. Rebecca’s early work in the 1970s at International Planned Parenthood exposed her to profound injustices faced by women who were denied access to contraception and abortion. Having survived polio the year the vaccine became available, she carried a deep sense of empathy into her work, recognizing how law and health shape human vulnerability. Her efforts helped broaden the human rights community’s understanding of reproductive autonomy, including early conversations with Sir Nigel Rodley about why women’s health belonged at the center of human rights advocacy. As a professor at the University of Toronto, Rebecca helped build one of the world’s leading programs on women’s human rights, mentoring generations of students and advancing research on gender stereotyping, structural discrimination, and harmful practices such as polygyny. Her scholarship has influenced courts in countries like Indonesia and South Africa, shaped CEDAW’s interpretation of discriminatory norms, and guided international efforts to promote women’s dignity and equality. In our conversation, Rebecca reflects on the experiences that shaped her path, the legal strategies that have proven most effective, and the work that remains to be done. Her insight, clarity, and humanity offer a powerful guide for anyone committed to advancing women’s rights in a complex and changing world.   SHOW NOTES Western University: Rebecca Cook's Speech Structural Discrimination: The Case of Polygyny Watch Video Center for Reproductive Rights Rebecca has worked closely with the Center for Reproductive Rights, helping develop legal strategies that advance reproductive autonomy worldwide. Support their work Planned Parenthood Rebecca’s early advocacy began at International Planned Parenthood, where she confronted the profound injustices women faced in accessing essential reproductive health care. Donate now

Today’s episode is a very special tribute to the life and legacy of our dear friend, and a true leader in international law, the late Sir Nigel Rodley. It is our privilege to be joined by his wife, and our close friend, Lyn Rodley. Nigel’s remarkable journey began at New York University in the International Studies Department, where he studied alongside both of my parents. He went on to become a foundational figure at Amnesty International, leading the legal office for nearly two decades and shaping the organization’s campaign against torture during a pivotal era of human rights advocacy. A distinguished academic and professor, Nigel co-founded the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, and devoted his life to teaching, mentoring, and supporting generations of students who would go on to play central roles in law, policy, and international institutions. In this conversation, Lyn reflects on Nigel’s profound impact on the world of human rights, and on the people whose lives he touched. She brings forward the personal stories, the humor, and the moral clarity that defined him, while offering a window into the person behind a lifetime of public work. For our family, this episode is a tribute to a beloved friend, a colleague, and a leader who helped shape the modern human rights movement. We miss him dearly, and hold deep gratitude for the legacy he left behind. Show Notes Recording Date This conversation was recorded in July 2024, which provides context for references to contemporary events, including the United States election and Brexit. Transcript Corrected transcript of conversation in PDF format. “Peace through Reason” “Peace through Reason” is the piece of advice Lyn offers at the end of the episode. It captures what she believes animated Nigel’s approach to law and diplomacy, and why his thoughtful, principled method proved effective in advancing human rights. Professor Tom Farer Tom Farer was a renowned international law and human rights scholar who served as Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and wrote widely on global justice and humanitarian intervention. He passed away in March 2025, and his loss is deeply felt across the human rights world. Professor Thomas M. Franck Thomas M. Franck was a leading scholar of international law at NYU, and author of influential works on global governance, and human rights. He advised governments during periods of constitutional change, and served as president of the American Society of International Law. Amnesty International Tribute to Sir Nigel Rodley Amnesty International published a tribute honoring Sir Nigel’s life, work, and global impact on human rights. You can read it here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/01/nigel-rodley-1941-2017/

This week, we sit down with Sister Helen Prejean, one of the most influential moral leaders of our time and a guiding force in the movement to end the death penalty. For more than three decades, she has accompanied people on death row with dignity, supported families affected by violence, and challenged the nation to confront the human cost of state killing with honesty and compassion. She joins us to celebrate the release of Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition, a powerful new retelling created to reach younger readers, visual storytellers, and classrooms. This edition renews the impact of her work through art and narrative, and we talk with Sister Helen about why this moment matters, how storytelling opens hearts, and what continues to sustain her spirit after decades of courageous advocacy. Our conversation explores her childhood in Baton Rouge during the Jim Crow era, her early formation as a young nun, and the unexpected letter in 1982 that set her on the path of accompanying people on death row. Sister Helen shares profound personal stories, reflects on the global landscape of state killing, and offers wisdom on courage, conscience, and the dignity at the center of every human life. May this conversation strengthen our collective resolve to end the death penalty in every corner of the world.   SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript PDF Sister Helen’s Website: Learn more about her books, advocacy, and ongoing work. Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition: A new adaptation illustrated by Catherine Anyango Grünewald with a script by Rose Vines, created to reach new generations through visual storytelling. SISTER Documentary Rebel Nun Documentary Calvin Duncan’s Book: The Jailhouse Lawyer: The remarkable story of a wrongfully convicted man who became a leading jailhouse lawyer and was recently elected Clerk of Criminal Court in New Orleans. The Guardian Investigation on Saudi Arabia Amnesty International Report on Executions in Saudi Arabia (2025) Innocence Project  

In this episode of Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations, we are honored to welcome The Honorable Unity Dow, a trailblazing jurist, author, and human rights advocate from Botswana. Unity is also a cherished friend of the Institute and a long-standing partner of the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights. The Institute’s inaugural founder and director, Professor Bert Lockwood, supports the placement of UMI's law fellows in Mochudi, where they work directly with Unity and her community, continuing a collaboration that spans decades. Our conversation reflects on Unity’s landmark citizenship case, now studied across the Commonwealth, and the ways her work has shaped constitutional and human rights development in Botswana and beyond. She shares insights from her diverse career, including her service as a judge, minister, parliamentarian, and educator dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people through the Dow Academy. Unity offers thoughtful reflections on leadership, progress, and the responsibilities facing the next generation of advocates. Her voice is a powerful reminder that principled and community-rooted human rights work remains essential in today’s world. Show Notes Episode Transcript PDF Unity Dow Website: https://unitydow.org/ The Dow Academy: https://thedowacademy.org/ - To support the incredible work of The Dow Academy, please consider donating to their trust to continue empowering students in Botswana.

This week, we welcome Eric Stover, an esteemed colleague and pioneer in human rights investigations. As a Research Professor and Co-Faculty Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Eric has spent decades at the forefront of applying science to pursue justice. He is a recipient of the 2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science Award. This conversation across generations traces his groundbreaking career, from launching the first forensic investigations of the disappeared in Central and South America to his critical work using forensic science in historic atrocity cases. We discuss his significant role for the United Nations War Crimes Tribunals and how his research helped launch the Nobel Peace Prize-winning campaign to ban landmines. Eric shares insightful advice for our listeners on applying science and public health to the pursuit of justice. SHOW NOTES: - Transcript PDF - The Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations: OHCHR Publication - PBS Documentary, Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten: Watch on PBS - PBS Documentary, El Equipo: Independent Lens - Pader Girls Academy: Berkeley Human Rights Center Project

Welcome back for Part 2 of our special series with the father-daughter duo, Professor Harold Koh and Emily Koh! Having explored the foundations of Harold’s legal career and family legacy in Part 1, this episode focuses on the critical challenges facing human rights and democracy today. We start with a powerful reflection on Harold's father and his unwavering commitment to the Rule of Law, made at great personal cost. Professor Koh then discusses his recent work, including his book, The National Security Constitution in the 21st Century, where he analyzes the existential dangers of executive unilateralism and offers his strategy for defending constitutional checks and balances. Harold and Emily share their inspiring thoughts on finding hope and the essential need to keep "marching" in the fight for human rights.   Show Notes Professor Harold Koh's GW Law Commencement Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/live/Zb6LXVJc5YM Support the Christy Fisher Legal Fellowship: https://ctveteranslegal.org/fisherfellowship/ The transcript PDF can be found on our producer's website, link here.

We are honored to welcome our first father-daughter duo to the show for a special two-part series: the esteemed Professor Harold Koh and his daughter, Emily Koh. This conversation represents a true multi-generational dialogue on human rights and the shared passion for justice that connects us. Professor Koh, the Sterling Professor of International Law at Yale Law School, has shaped the human rights landscape over five decades, serving four U.S. Presidents. Emily has dedicated her career to social impact, gender equality, and women's rights, including her former role on the White House’s Gender Policy Council under the Biden Administration. In this first part of our conversation, we dive into the foundations of Harold’s inspiring family legacy and career from his parents’ pioneering work at Yale Law School and his clerkships with Justice Harry A. Blackmun, to his key role in founding the Allard Lowenstein Clinic and his human rights advocacy in cases like "Storming the Court." Listen to this episode now, and be sure to come back next week for Part 2 of our dynamic conversation. Show Notes: Professor Harold Koh's George Washington Law Commencement Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/live/Zb6LXVJc5YM Support the Christy Fisher Legal Fellowship: https://ctveteranslegal.org/fisherfellowship/

We welcome legendary litigator Professor Paul Hoffman to discuss his decades-long career pioneering international human rights law and battling abuses by global corporations. This intergenerational conversation bridges the past and future of the movement, revealing the core struggles and enduring hope required for justice.