S1.1 - Clearly unclear

S1.1 - Clearly unclear

Author: Global Campus of Human Rights March 6, 2022 Duration: 47:05

Human Rights under pressure: when, why and how to engage with sceptics?

In the current era of rising illiberalism and backlash against hard won human rights standards, there is a pressing need to stand firm, hold governments to their agreed international obligations and adopt a confrontational 'naming and shaming' approach to abuses and critics of Human Rights.

If this is a pertinent reaction in many situations, it should also be recognised that voices of scepticism may express valid concerns. There may be something important to be learnt from carefully listening to critical voices. This said, there are clearly also voices of opposition to human rights and patterns of neglect and abuse that call for resolute resistance.

As it is not clear how best to calibrate and balance the different available approaches, our series starts with the following question: is it possible to determine when to adopt an adversarial 'naming and shaming' approach towards detractors and when to engage in constructive good faith interaction with exponents of scepticism towards human rights?


Produced by the Global Campus of Human Rights, To the Righthouse is a podcast that navigates the complex and often turbulent waters where human rights meet the real world. The title itself is a guiding metaphor: just as a lighthouse warns ships of perilous coasts, this series aims to illuminate the risks and challenges facing fundamental freedoms today, while also pointing toward potential harbours of safer, more robust protection. Each episode grapples with the persistent gap between lofty ideals and ground-level realities, exploring that difficult space where theory confronts practice. You’ll hear from a range of voices-academics, advocates, and those directly affected-who bring multiple perspectives to these urgent discussions. The conversations aren't about easy answers; they delve into the nuanced, sometimes contentious work of seeking stability and just solutions in an unstable world. This isn't a lecture series, but a thoughtful exploration for anyone curious about the forces shaping dignity and justice globally. Tune in for a podcast that serves as both a beacon of critical thought and a forum for genuine, enlightening dialogue on the social scientific dimensions of our rights.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 23

To the Righthouse
Podcast Episodes
S3.3 - Reimagining values [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
What about culture as politics? Our guest in this episode is Alexandra Xanthaki*, UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights. Based on her work and a series of reports that she has released, we asked her: What role is ther…
S3.2 - Reimagining leadership [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:52
On why leadership needs a long-term and rights-based view One cannot talk about politics without discussing the characteristics of leadership. We asked Mary Robinson* her thoughts about a new approach suggested by her an…
S3.1 - Reimagining politics through human rights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:48
Introducing the theme of the series Our co-hosts Graham Finlay and George Ulrich engage in a conversation that looks at why this is the time to re-imagine politics and why it is important to do so through the lens of hum…
S2.5 - To hope for the future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:40
A picture of the world we want to see In conversation with Thomas Coombes We conclude the series with a conversation about embracing hope. As a final reflection, we want to hope for the future and draw a picture of the w…
S2.4 - To hope for the broken [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:45
The importance of hopefulness in creating justice In conversation with Marina Shupac In this episode, we focus on practicing hope and on good examples of aspiration, solidarity and resilience as opposed to negative feeli…
S2.3 - To hope for the human [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
The power of telling a human story In conversation with Andrew Leon Hanna We want to continue our journey to better understand what it means to hope for the human, and to do so we will talk about the power of telling a h…
S2.2 - To hope for the better [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:14
The need to stress achievements (big and small) In conversation with Mary Lawlor In the face of the current backlash against human rights, we want to reflect on how to hope for the better and what we can learn from the n…
S2.1 - To hope or not to hope? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:57
The importance of positive human rights narratives In conversation with George Ulrich In the first GC Podcast Series, we widely explained why talking with human rights sceptics is not only relevant but also conducive to…
S1.5 - Unicorns, utopia and mockery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:53
Are human rights real? How do they exist? Ontological scepticism questions the very being of universal human rights. In its most explicit form, it asserts that human rights do not exist. As famously stated by the British…
S1.4 - Rhetoric, Rupture and Rights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:17
Are human rights politically neutral? Does proliferation of human rights water down the very concept? Expressions of political scepticism about human rights may involve an assessment both of how human rights claims feed…