In our final episode of the season we are delighted to be joined by Kathleen Schwind. A 2015 Coca-Cola Scholar, Kathleen focuses her research on the issues of water security in the Middle East and North Africa. She has studied at MIT and the University of Cambridge and joins our host, Muna Gasim, to discuss the problem of water shortage and its interaction with politics and international relations, as well giving advice on how to find your passion and make a positive change at any level. An insightful and inspiring conversation, this episode offers a microcosm for what Declarations has sought to achieve over the course of this season: shedding light on pressing problems in our world today and, through our guests, offering guidance on how to solve them.
In our final episode of the season we are delighted to be joined by Kathleen Schwind. A 2015 Coca-Cola Scholar, Kathleen focusses her research on the issues of water security in the Middle East and North Africa. She has studied at MIT and the University of Cambridge and joins our host, Muna Gasim, to discuss the problem of water shortage and its interaction with politics and international relations, as well giving advice on how to find your passion and make a positive change at any level. An insightful and inspiring conversation, this episode offers a microcosm for what Declarations has sought to achieve over the course of this season: shedding light on pressing problems in our world today and, through our guests, offering guidance on how to solve them.
Growing up in rural California, Kathleen quickly became aware of the problem of water scarcity and the extent to which it could divide communities. She remembers her high school days where farmers, residents and senior local officials would argue and debate access to water. It is this that captured her attention and represents the foundations of her recent and ongoing research into the issues around water in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. The Joint Water Committee, formed as part of the 1995 Oslo Accords, was intended to be a temporary measure but quickly became one of permanent significance, with the reliance on political cooperation for continuous and safe water supplies in the region ensuring water cannot be forgotten when analysing the ongoing conflict. How the committee should be restructured and operate formed to the bulk of Kathleen’s research whilst she was at MIT but, as she and her childhood experiences inform us, issues of water are not confined only to areas on ongoing conflict, impacting the everyday life of people across the globe and from all walks of life.
‘Water is a very political issue whether you like it or not’
Kathleen Schwind
In the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, water scarcity has only grown in significance. Across much of the world the message has been to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, raising the question: ‘what about those who do not have access to fresh water?’. It is in this current climate that Kathleen has seen an increase in the number of small organisations, local communities and entrepreneurs seeking to take the initiative and bring change about themselves. Bridging divides, such as those between Israelis and Palestinians, these people have partnered with their neighbours to try and make a positive impact. Not only demonstrating the pressing nature of water shortages, these projects and ambitions also exemplify the benefits of finding your passion and seeking to act upon it.
It is at this point in the episode that Muna turns to discuss Kathleen’s scholarship. Growing up in a rural community where there were few opportunities for young people who were not blessed with athletic talent, Kathleen decided she wanted to change this. Launching the Gifted And Talented Educational Olympics (GATE Olympics) when she was in 4th grade represented an opportunity for children to show off their problem-solving and intellectual talents. Kathleen was later offered the role of a Coca-Cola Scholar, reflecting the positive impact she had had on her community, offering a chance for both competition and recognition to young people who previously been celebrated to that degree.
The initiative and ambition Kathleen showed in creating the GATE Olympics is the focus of her new book ‘Ignite Your Story’. Recounting the lives of other Coca-Cola Scholars she has encountered, their passions and actions are shown to have improved the world around them. This not only heralds their achievements, but also offers the reader examples of how to make positive change. Details of the book and where to purchase it can be found below.
For this week’s episode, host Muna Gasim and panelist Eddie Kembery speak to Alfredo Romero, one of the founding members of Foro Penal, a human rights organization that won the 2017 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for its work in Venezuela. Beginning with Alfredo’s own story, this episode is a masterclass in grassroots activism as we explore what has driven Foro Penal’s growth from four lawyer’s pro-bono work to an organisation of over 7000 activists. On the way, we discuss the difference between macro and micro resistance, activism without sacrifices, and Alfredo’s unconventional use of music.
For this week’s episode, host Muna Gasim and panelist Eddie Kembery speak to Alfredo Romero, one of the founding members of Foro Penal, a human rights organization that won the 2017 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for its work in Venezuela. Beginning with Alfredo’s own story, this episode is a masterclass in grassroots activism as we explore what has driven Foro Penal’s growth from four lawyer’s pro-bono work to an organisation of over 7000 activists. On the way, we discuss the difference between macro and micro resistance, activism without sacrifices, and Alfredo’s unconventional use of music.
Alfredo begins his story by speaking about the death of Jesus Mohammed on April 11th 2002 during the protests against Hugo Chávez which left 300 people injured. Alfredo’s effort to assist the family of the young boy pro-bono was one of the first actions he took against repression. He says he never thought of himself as a human rights activist – he had studied banking law – but as he has kept helping more and more families, and recruiting and educating more volunteers to assist him, Foro Penal has steadily grown.
“One woman, three years in jail without a sentence, her trial never ends… she was pregnant, and tortured… no one knows what happened to the baby”
Alfredo Romero
He then takes us through the range of actions Foro Penal volunteers are encouraged to take, formalised in his Legal Litigations Manual. The main emphasis is on taking direct local actions, including going to courts, raising attention of opinion makers, trade unions or local communities in order to precipitate a release. As he points out, the judicial system is only one of multiple systems they leverage to get a victim released. Next, he will often try and encourage international support – he suggests Foro Penal is the leading Venezeualan NGO in terms of leveraging international attention. Underlining this are “communicative actions”: posts on social media, press conferences and traditional media, once more organised by a colossal network of activists. Finally, Foro Penal will occasionally stage non-violent protests as a way of increasing the political cost of the repression. Later, we return to the topic, and Alfredo summarises the effect of having a clear formula with a drawing that captures how it streamlines decision making and avoids the necessity of extended experimentation:
“Concerts in the streets of Caracas, we play on the streets, music … And we start talking about situations“
Alfredo Romero
Alfredo talks about one example of staging non-violent social events. In Caracas, for example, the stage street concerts, where people will gather and speak about community issues as well as human rights. Alfredo will often compose songs that specifically address relevant issues. This reflects Alfredo’s own personality, as both a certified lawyer at the international court and musician who plays the guitar and sings.
“Before being a musician I’m a human being, but before being a lawyer I’m a musician”
Alfredo Romero
We then talk about the viability of Alfredo’s strategy at decreasing large scale repression. Obviously Foro Penal has released many people, but why are they still being put in jail? Alfredo calls it the “revolving door effect” – for each person that comes out, another goes in. For Alfredo, taking a stand against this micro-repression is enough, because little achievements stack up, and often those released or effected by the activism become supporters of Foro Penal’s efforts, and in time become a macro-problem for the government. What will happen in the next five years? Alfredo isn’t sure – he says that he has always been expecting liberation, it’s a necessary part of the job – but he is hopeful that Foro Penal’s network will continue to grow and give hope to the unlawfully detained.
“We haven’t stopped the macro-repression – as I mentioned, repression has increased – but be have made progress on the micro”
Alfredo Romero
We talk about the universal applicability of the Foro Penal model. Alfredo has written about the models of repression (The Repression Clock) and Foro Penal operates with a clearly defined formal system. Could this work everywhere? Alfredo thinks so. He thinks all regimes go through the same stages – appeasement, awakening, hopeful and darkening – and outlines what those mean to him in more detail. For him, Venezuela is in an “appeasement” phase – and is about to wake up.
“They don’t care about what ideology they have, they care about controlling power”
Alfredo Romero
Finally, we return to Alfredo’s personal journey. Alfredo speaks of “”the embrace of freedom” – liberation is an amazing feeling, but it is also an amazing feel to liberate someone else. “There are many people around the world who are looking for this satisfaction”, so that asking them is a gift, rather than a burden. That is what he means by activism without sacrifice.
“Who ever wants to become a billionaire, do not become a human rights activist. But there is something more valuable about being a lawyer, which is the satisfaction of helping someone.“
Alfredo Romero
Political Context
In April 2002, Chávez was briefly ousted from power in the 2002 Venezuelan coup d’état attempt following actions by some of the military and media and demonstrations by the minority opposition, but he was returned to power after two days as a result of demonstrations by the majority of the public and actions by most of the military. However, political unrest continued during his term including a national strike that lasted more than two months in December 2002 – February 2003. He was elected for another term in December 2006 and in 2009 called for a referendum to remove term limits for all elected officials. Re-elected in 2012, he died in office in early 2013. He was succeeded by Nicolás Maduro (initially as interim president before narrowly winning the 2013 presidential elections). A combination of policy and oil price collapse caused a recession in 2014, and economic conditions continued to deteriorate in 2016. Maduro’s push to ban potential opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles from politics in 2017 also escalated protests.
On 20 May 2018, President Nicolás Maduro won the presidential election amidst allegations of massive irregularities by his main rivals. His inauguration resulted in widespread condemnation; provoking the National Assembly to invoke a state of emergency and some nations to remove their embassies from Venezuela. On 23 January 2019, the president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, was declared the interim president by that body, and recognized as the legitimate president by several nations, including the United States and the Lima Group. About 60 countries recognised him as acting president, but support for Guaidó has declined since a failed military uprising attempt in April 2019.
Today’s Guest
Alfredo Romero is the executive director of Foro Penal, a Venezuelan human rights organization composed of more than 100 well-known lawyers and a group of over 5.000 human rights activists who provide legal assistance to victims of arbitrary detentions in Venezuela, as well as assisting the families and victims of oppression.
Alfredo graduated as an Attorney in Caracas before obtaining a masters in Latin American Studies from Georgetown and another in Law from LSE. He went on to work as a professional lawyer, before starting humanitarian efforts in 2002. Since then, Foro Penal has helped over 10,000 people, and Alfredo recieved the Orden Bicentenaria del Colegio de Abogados in 2014, the highest recognition given by this entity in Venezuela, as well as the Robert Kennedy award in 2017.
In a country that has been failed by multiple decades of political leadership, his seemingly modest focus on emotional resonance, story-telling and community cohesion (over, say, political signalling or insistent street protests) is deceptively powerful and something that traditional journalism might fail to capture because it isn’t as fast-moving or flashy as rioting or grand pronouncements. At the same time, Alfredo was unusually aware of the government’s reasons for repression. Although he generalises about tyranny, the Venezuelan government aren’t monsters – they are acting rationally and effectively – and his balancing of emotional story with appropriate utilitarianism (ultimately “to increase the political cost of repression”) shows that Foro Penal can act with the head, as well as the heart.
This week, host Muna Gasim and panellist Akshata Kapoor welcome journalist Afrah Nasser for an in-depth discussion of human rights reporting, bias, gender inequity, and more in Yemen and the international community at large. Our discussion this week covers topics ranging from the role of objectivity in human rights reporting to both the benefits and pitfalls of technology and social media. Nasser shares insights with Muna and Akshata on finding role models and the most important ways that governments and residents alike can support Yemeni rights
This week, host Muna Gasim and panellist Akshata Kapoor welcome journalist Afrah Nasser for an in-depth discussion of human rights reporting, bias, gender inequity, and more in Yemen and the international community at large. Our discussion this week covers topics ranging from the role of objectivity in human rights reporting to both the benefits and pitfalls of technology and social media. Nasser shares insights with Muna and Akshata on finding role models and the most important ways that governments and residents alike can support Yemeni rights.
In 2011, there were civilian uprisings in Yemen alongside other Middle Eastern countries during the Arab Spring. In September 2014, the Houthi rebel group, in alliance with former President Saleh, ousted President Hadi and started a full-fledged war. In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE with a coalition of Arab countries started a military campaign to reinstate President Hadi. Governments of Western countries continue to supply arms to the Saudi coalition that has been conducting relentless airstrikes in Yemen, affecting large swaths of civilian infrastructure and the population. Six years later, there seems to be no end in sight to the war in Yemen.
According to the Yemen Data Project, since March 2015 there have been 18,569 civilian casualties and 22,701 air strikes. Thousands died in 2017 due to an outbreak of cholera and a breakdown of the healthcare system, which has yet to recover. A starving population is denied access to aid due to restrictions imposed by the Houthis. Women, political dissidents, and journalists are victims of arbitrary punishments. How does one report on such a conflict where so many different parties are complicit in the violation of human rights? What standards do you hold different parties to, and to what extent is it even possible to hold parties accountable?
From humble beginnings in Yemen to an early career in journalism and the role of a blogger in Yemen’s 2011 uprising, former Yemeni journalist, political writer, and human rights defender Afrah Nasser has been advocating for women’s empowerment and human rights in Yemen for over a decade. Nasser has written for and made appearances on numerous news outlets, including Al-Jazeera, The Monitor, Atlantic Council, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and others. She is the recipient of the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society Organization’s 2017 Eldh-Ekblads Peace Prize, the Pennskaft Prize in 2016, the Swedish Publicists Club’s 2014 Dawit Issak Prize, and the Committee to Protect Journalists’ International Press Freedom Award in 2017. In 2013, Nasser was named by BBC as one of the “100 Women Who Changed the World,” and has been featured three times as one of the 100 most influential Arabs by Arabian Business Magazine. Her blog, created during Yemen’s 2011 uprisings, has won her the recognition of CNN and Al-Monitor as one of the most influential blogs in the Middle East for her coverage of human rights. Today, she works as the Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch, investigating humanitarian law violations and human rights abuses in Yemen.
“I think the question is, … what is your bias? Are your biases towards civilians? Towards human rights? Towards the integrity … the need for people to live in dignity, and, you know, for justice to be served? That’s my bias.”
Afrah Nasser
Our conversation begins with a discussion of the role of objectivity in journalism. Nasser shares that an emphasis on objectivity should not eclipse the humanity of the people in Yemen. Even those who believe themselves to be perfectly impartial, as academics often strive to be, are still likely to carry an implicit set of beliefs and biases which can skew data and information. To account for this, Nasser emphasizes the need for diversity of background and perspective – academics, researchers, human rights activists, witnesses, and other key stakeholders should come together at the same table.
“It’s really about having all these perspectives included. Because excluding local voices really harms what you’re trying to do.”
Afrah Nasser
Nasser also shares her experiences as a female journalist working in a male dominated field. She observes that even when female voices are represented, they are all too often disregarded or dismissed. Years of this disregard can culminate in imposter syndrome, or the belief that one does not deserve the position they have accomplished – when a woman is shown over and over that her opinions are not valued, this lowered esteem can become internalized. To help bolster confidence in women who are pursuing journalism – or any career – Nasser encourages finding and researching role models who have helped pave the way for the next generation to follow.
“It’s thanks to my mother actually, who taught me that your gender should mean nothing. It’s really about you, and your personality, and your hard work that determines what you want to be in the society.”
Afrah Nasser
With regard to the role of technology in sharing information, Nasser notes the clear benefits of heightened communication and access to information. The #MeToo movement in particular, she says, showed the power that women can wield when coming together to occupy new spaces and support one another. However, she is careful to raise the point that men and women encounter the online sphere in very different ways – while men and women alike receive negative commentary from adversaries, Nasser reflects on the trolling, sexual harassment, and hate speech, which combine to form what she calls “hate poetry,” which is directed disproportionately at women online. Governments and regulating bodies have a responsibility to end digital violence and make online presence safe for all.
“Very often I live with that trauma, that my opinions don’t matter. And every time I was getting the awards I was like, really? Are they sure? Is my work this important? But I always knew I was so passionate about writing. Like I could physically get sick if I don’t write, if I don’t express the things that I was seeing, or just doing proper journalism.”
Afrah Nasser
Likewise, the rise of citizen journalism has helped grassroots movements and human rights defenders make great strides in understanding and fighting against the abuses taking place worldwide. Simultaneously, oppressive governments are able to weaponize digital platforms to target dissidents and protestors, and further restrict free expression. In many countries, journalists and activists feel as though it is just a matter of time before it is “their turn” to be arrested for speaking out in criticism of the oppressive state. Part of the responsibility for correcting this falls on the shoulders of Western states and diplomats, who have the ability to pressure governments to respect the rights of their people.
“Diplomats should use their freedom of expression to support the oppressed.”
Afrah Nasser
Nasser concludes by encouraging all listeners and supporters to show solidarity by uplifting the voices and experiences of Yemenis.
“As a principle, if you really want to show solidarity for any Yemeni just amplify their voices. it’s not about you, it’s not about hijacking their struggle, just amplify Yemeni voices.”
This week, host Muna Gasim welcomes guest Tom Parker, counterterrorism practitioner and former UN war crimes investigator, for a discussion of situating the fight against terrorism within a human rights framework. They discuss the power of language, the use of force, peace method interrogation, Guantanamo Bay, the state of policing, and more.
This week, host Muna Gasim welcomes guest Tom Parker, counterterrorism practitioner and former UN war crimes investigator, for a discussion of situating the fight against terrorism within a human rights framework. They discuss the power of language, the use of force, PEACE method interrogation, Guantanamo Bay, the state of policing, and more. To read Tom’s latest book, “Avoiding the Terrorist Trap: Why Respecting Human Rights is the Key to Defeating Terrorism,” Tom Parker. Click HERE to claim a 55% discount on the Hardback and a 30% discount of the eBook – be sure to use offer code P995PARKERHC for the Hardback and P995PARKEREB for the eBook!
Tom Parker is the author of “Avoiding the Terrorist Trap: Why Respecting Human Rights is the Key to Defeating Terrorism”(2019). Until recently he was Chief of Party of a European Union project providing assistance to the Office of the National Security Adviser in Baghdad, Iraq. Tom has previously served as an adviser on human rights and counter-terrorism to United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), as the Policy Director for Terrorism, Counterterrorism and Human Rights for Amnesty International USA, as a war crimes investigator for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) working in the field in Bosnia and Kosovo, and as an Intelligence Officer in the British Security Service (MI5). As an independent consultant he has worked on transitional justice and security sector reform projects on four continents, and was one of the principal authors of the UN’s Preventing Violent Extremism Plan of Action.
After beginning his career as a self-described hard-charging counterterrorism officer, Tom’s focus shifted to research as he sought to better understand the complex role of Western powers in the project of counterterrorism and the project of protecting human rights. Muna and Parker discuss the political potency of language, particularly when it comes to defining labels such as “prisoner of war,” which not only carries legal ramifications but also affords legitimacy to the states in question.
“In fact, if we really wanted to start digging into solutions to terrorism, we really have to turn the lens back on ourselves and understand the role that we were playing in this dynamic.”
Tom Parker
Tom and Muna also discuss the responsibility incumbent upon global powers such as the US and the UK to hold a high standard when it comes to the use of force. While Parker acknowledges that it is often unrealistic to expect a government not to act in the face of an imminent threat to its citizens, he underscores that the use of force should always be calibrated to the lowest necessary level. By conducting military operations which resulted in civilian casualty, the “soft power” long held by the United States as a global leader, promoter of liberal values, and human rights defender has begun to erode. Expanding on this, Parker explains how, particularly in law enforcement and interrogation, practicing the “PEACE method,” which protects the human rights of detainees, is not only the ethical choice, but the smart one. Humane interrogation practices are shown to actually be more effective at eliciting information than torture – which, Tom notes, is not only illegal, but is a universal crime, punishable worldwide, without statute of limitations.
“If you’re employing the right people, they should have the creative tools and the experience and the knowledge to find legal ways to achieve their objective. It really isn’t actually that difficult. And you should be challenged as a representative of the state to hold yourself to a higher standard, and you should be challenged to do your best work every day. So I don’t find this a particularly remarkable standard to impose on people working in counterterrorism.”
Tom Parker
Looking ahead to the future of human rights, Parker cautions that without significant attention to human rights protections, all of the components of a dystopian fantasy could come together into a reality. The ubiquity of facial recognition technology and surveillance hold tremendous and concerning potential for future human rights abuses – and this future may not be as far off as we would think.
“It’s not hard to imagine a dystopia where everything you say is recorded, everywhere you go is recorded, everybody you meet is recorded and your space to be a private, free individual disappears. Now that’s, as I said, that’s something of a dystopian fantasy of the moment, but the tools to make that dystopian fantasy a reality do exist and they’re getting more and more powerful every year.”
Tom Parker
In parting, Parker urges listeners to hold tight to the essential value of human rights protections. Human rights, he says, are not just idealistic – they are profoundly central human values, which must be defended persistently. As nations, the practice and protection of these values is a challenge that must be met in every possible scenario, without compromise.
“ Infrastructure is pretty easy to rebuild. It’s actually really, really hard to recover your values once they start getting tarnished. Because hypocrisy is kryptonite to legitimacy.”
Tom Parker
LEARN MORE
“Avoiding the Terrorist Trap: Why Respecting Human Rights is the Key to Defeating Terrorism,” Tom Parker. Click HERE to claim a 55% discount on the Hardback and a 30% discount of the eBook – be sure to use offer code P995PARKERHC for the Hardback and P995PARKEREB for the eBook!
This week, host Muna Gasim and panellist Neema Jayasinghe speak with Chamnan Chanruang from the Future Forward party about the anti-monarchy protests ongoing in Thailand. Chanruang is also a former Political Science and Law lecturer at Chiang Mai University, and has a professional background as a human rights activist. He has taken a stand against coup d’états and was also a key driver in the movement to finalise the draft act for the Chiang Mai Self-Governing. He was previously appointed as the Chairperson of the Amnesty International Thailand Board.
This week, host Muna Gasim and panellist Neema Jayasinghe speak with Chamnan Chanruang from the Future Forward party about the anti-monarchy protests ongoing in Thailand. Chanruang is also a former Political Science and Law lecturer at Chiang Mai University, and has a professional background as a human rights activist. He has taken a stand against coup d’états and was also a key driver in the movement to finalise the draft act for the Chiang Mai Self-Governing. He was previously appointed as the Chairperson of the Amnesty International Thailand Board.
I can say we have no freedom of speech, no freedom of assembly, especially related to monarchy or related to the institutions.
Chamnan Chanruang
In 2020, anti-government protests erupted in Thailand after courts banned the Future Forward Party, the country’s most vocal party opposing the government of former junta leader Prayut Chan-ocha. Due to the coronavirus, protests saw a brief pause, but the movement resumed in mid-July. Protestors were pushing for Prayut’s removal, a new constitution, and an end to the harassment of activists. Some protesters went further with a list of ten demands to reform the monarchy – demands that were cheered by tens of thousands of people at a demonstration in September. Currently, nearly one year after emergency decree, more than 380 protesters (including 13 children) face criminal charges and alleged protest leaders remain in detention. 61 people face charges for defamatory comments about the monarchy and more large-scale protests are expected to be ongoing alongside the possibility of a charter rewrite with two referendums.
Many people committed suicide, they have no money, no food. This never happened before.
Chamnan Chanruang
Chanruang explains that power in Thailand is influenced by three main forces: businesses, politicians, and the monarchy, which wields military support. Due to rampant economic inequality, the Future Forward Party found vast support amongst the younger generations living in Thailand. The current protests differ from those in the past because of the specific focus on the Thai monarchal power structure – for example, it had long been customary for audience members in Thai cinemas to stand for the royal anthem before each show, but protestors have remained seated in protest.
In [the] long run they cannot, they cannot destroy… the demonstrations of the young generations.
Chamnan Chanruang
At the core of the unrest, Chanruang shares, is widespread economic inequality. Facing a lack of business opportunity in the face of monopolies, saddled with student debt, and without employment or income, Thailand’s younger generations are seeking reform. But the risk of persecution for dissent is high, and the criminal justice system remains intertwined with the interests of the ruling monarchy. Even from abroad, Chanruang says, the international community has an important role to play in putting pressure on the Thai government to respect and uphold human rights. This episode also features discussions of the interplay of regional politics, coronavirus vaccine equity, and the road ahead for the FFP.
