Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations

Bert & Meredith Lockwood
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

For over fifty years, Professor Bert Lockwood has had a front-row seat to the evolution of international human rights law. Now, he and his daughter, Meredith Lockwood, who has followed in his footsteps, are sharing that expertise with you. Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations is a compelling podcast dedicated to exploring the multifaceted world of human rights, co-hosted by this father-daughter duo. Through engaging, intergenerational dialogues, they connect to the powerful stories and insights of distinguished guests, including former presidents, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, political leaders, and the world’s leading scholars and activists. The show’s mission is to bridge the past and present, making complex human rights issues approachable and understandable for everyone. If you have any suggestions for future guests or topics for conversations, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you! Email: humanrightsconversations@gmail.com Website: www.meredithlockwood.com 

  1. 1d ago

    Professor Paul Hunt: Reimagining the Future of Human Rights

    Professor Paul Hunt is a British-New Zealand human rights lawyer and Emeritus Professor at the University of Essex. His work has been particularly influential in advancing social rights and establishing the right to health as a practical human rights framework. Paul served on the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights before becoming the first UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health. He later advised the World Health Organization and served as Chief Human Rights Commissioner of New Zealand. His experiences in Palestine and The Gambia shaped that work from its earliest years. Paul and our co-host, Professor Bert B. Lockwood, also share more than thirty years of friendship through Human Rights Quarterly and the University of Essex. “Human rights are meant to control states, but states control human rights,” Paul writes in his 2026 Human Rights Quarterly article, “Empowering Human Rights for Revolutionary Change.” Paul argues for strengthening human rights from the ground up and placing greater power in the hands of people and communities. At a time when the movement is confronting renewed authoritarianism, Paul continues to look ahead. His vision is not to abandon the human rights framework, but to rethink where power sits within it. It is a call to build on decades of progress while making human rights more responsive to the people they are meant to serve. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript Here Professor Paul Hunt, University of Essex Human Rights Quarterly Articles: Empowering Human Rights for Revolutionary Change, Human Rights Quarterly Children’s Rights in West Africa: The Case of The Gambia’s Almudos, Human Rights Quarterly Configuring the UN Human Rights System in the “Era of Implementation”: Mainland and Archipelago, Human Rights Quarterly Resources: Articles, Reports, and Media Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health, The Lancet Equality: The Road Less Travelled, TEDx University of Essex In Conversation with Professor Paul Hunt, RightsCast Podcast Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health: Mission to Sweden, Uganda, the World Bank and the IMF, United Nations Maranga Mai! Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

    Professor Paul Hunt: Reimagining the Future of Human Rights

  2. Aug 7

    Professor Ryan Thoreson: Protecting LGBTQIA+ Rights and Human Dignity

    Across the United States and around the world, legal protections for LGBTQIA+ communities are being tested in ways that would have been difficult to imagine just a decade ago. Courtrooms have become battlegrounds over gender identity, conversion therapy, marriage equality, and the recognition of queer families. At the same time, governments in dozens of countries continue to criminalize same-sex relationships and, in some cases, impose the death penalty. In this episode of Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations, we welcome Professor Ryan Thoreson, Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Deputy Editor of Human Rights Quarterly, and colleague of our co-host, Professor Bert B. Lockwood. Before joining UC, Ryan served as Senior Researcher in the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, where he spent more than a decade documenting human rights abuses and advancing LGBTQIA+ rights around the world. He is the author of Transnational LGBT Activism: Working for Sexual Rights Worldwide and co-editor of The SAGE Handbook of Global Sexualities. Today, Ryan's scholarship and teaching focus on constitutional law, international human rights law, and the evolving legal landscape surrounding LGBTQIA+ rights. Ryan reflects on the experiences that first drew him to human rights, from growing up in North Dakota to witnessing the fight for marriage equality as a college student. Those early moments continue to shape how he approaches constitutional law, scholarship, and the classroom today. Together, we examine the rapidly changing legal landscape surrounding conversion therapy, marriage equality, anti-trans legislation, and the criminalization of same-sex relationships. Drawing on years of documenting human rights abuses, Ryan reflects on the power of listening. Behind every court decision is a person, a family, and a lived experience that deserves to be seen with dignity. The discussion also turns to Human Rights Quarterly, where Ryan serves as Deputy Editor alongside Professor Lockwood. Together, they reflect on the journal's enduring role in advancing global human rights. SHOW NOTES EPISODE TRANSCRIPT PDF Ryan Thoreson: Website University of Cincinnati College of Law: Ryan Thoreson Faculty Profile Human Rights Quarterly, Johns Hopkins University Press Human Rights Watch: Ryan Thoreson Transnational LGBT Activism: Working for Sexual Rights Worldwide, University of Minnesota Press The Dream of a Common Movement: Selected Writings of Urvashi Vaid, Human Rights Quarterly Book Review The SAGE Handbook of Global Sexualities Can Global LGBTQ Rights Jurisprudence Survive the Authoritarian Turn? Jotwell: Equality Newsweek: Supreme Court to Hear New Case Tied to Same-Sex Couples Newsweek: Map Shows States Banning Transgender Athletes as Supreme Court Rules Cincinnati Edition, WVXU: What Impact Could a SCOTUS Decision Have on Cincinnati's Conversion Therapy Ban? Matthew Shepard Foundation | Our Story Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 - Human Dignity Trust

    Professor Ryan Thoreson: Protecting LGBTQIA+ Rights and Human Dignity

  3. Jul 31

    Ruth Kimani: Head of Programs for Africa, Freedom Fund

    Ruth Kimani has spent more than two decades working alongside communities across Africa to address some of the world's most complex human rights challenges. Today, as Head of Programs for Africa at the Freedom Fund, she leads initiatives across Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Nigeria that have invested more than $26 million in frontline partners and directly impacted more than 223,000 people through locally led efforts to combat modern slavery. In this episode, Ruth joins us to discuss one of the world's most widespread yet least visible forms of modern slavery: child domestic work. Hidden behind closed doors, at least 10 million children, many of them girls, spend their days cooking, cleaning, and caring for households instead of attending school, often isolated from their families and vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Together, we explore why community-led solutions are essential to protecting children's rights, how trust-based philanthropy is reshaping international development, and what it takes to create lasting, systemic change. Ruth also shares how the Freedom Fund's hotspot model is transforming communities across Africa. We discuss the impact of international funding cuts and why ending child domestic work requires long-term investment, stronger protections, and communities working together.   SHOW NOTES Ruth Kimani | Head of Programs for Africa, Freedom Fund Freedom Fund Donate to the Freedom Fund Reports, Articles, and Resources 2025–2026: Freedom Fund Impact Report What Is Modern Slavery? Understanding Child Domestic Work Freedom Fund's African Hotspots:  Kenya Hotspot: Ending Child Domestic Work Nigeria Hotspot: Ending Child Domestic Work Ethiopia Hotspot: Ending Child Domestic Work Behind Closed Doors: Millions of Girls Are Working Instead of Learning | More to Her Story by Ruth Kimani What Three Years of Listening Have Taught Us About Child Domestic Work | Global Peer Learning Group Ideas in Action: Pilot Program Evaluation in Nigeria | NORC at the University of Chicago, The Khana Group & The Freedom Fund

  4. Jul 17

    Hans Thoolen: True Heroes Films and Protecting Human Rights Defenders

    Human rights defenders are often the first to expose injustice, challenge those in power, and protect the rights of the world's most vulnerable communities. They also face extraordinary risks for doing so. For more than five decades, Hans Thoolen has worked to ensure these courageous individuals are recognized, protected, and never forgotten. Today, Hans focuses much of his work on advancing the protection of human rights defenders around the world. In 2006, he established True Heroes Films, a nonprofit organization that partners with human rights defenders and organizations to produce films, strengthen communications, and bring their stories to audiences that can inspire action. Through his blog, Human Rights Defenders, Hans shares news, analysis, and resources from across the global human rights movement while advocating for greater recognition and protection of those on the frontlines. He also serves on the Board of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, one of the world's most prestigious awards recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage in defending human rights. Hans' commitment to human rights spans more than fifty years. He founded the Netherlands Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights, served as Executive Secretary of the International Commission of Jurists, was the first Director of the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, and spent fifteen years with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He also co-founded HURIDOCS and International Alert, helping build institutions that continue to strengthen the global human rights movement today. In this conversation, Hans reflects on the experiences that shaped his remarkable career, from his early involvement in the anti-apartheid movement to helping build institutions, documentation systems, and storytelling initiatives that have strengthened the protection of human rights defenders. We explore the power of documentation and film, the stories of courageous defenders on the frontlines of justice, and the challenges facing the global human rights movement today. SHOW NOTES Show Episode Transcript True Heroes Films Website True Heroes Films Trailer Video  Human Rights Defenders Blog Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders HURIDOCS International Commission of Jurists UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) True Heroes Films Featured: Huda Al-Sarari Story Ana Paula Gomes de Oliveira | Martin Ennals Award

    Hans Thoolen: True Heroes Films and Protecting Human Rights Defenders

  5. Jul 3

    Guadalupe Marengo: Amnesty International, Head of the Global Human Rights Defenders Programme and Head of the Global Relief Programme

    Human rights defenders are essential to every movement for justice. They expose abuses, defend their communities, challenge those in power, and help advance the rights many of us rely on every day. Yet across the globe, the space for this work is rapidly shrinking, making the defense of human rights itself an increasingly dangerous act. Our guest is Guadalupe Marengo, Head of Amnesty International's Global Human Rights Defenders Team and Head of the Global Relief Programme. Amnesty International is one of the world's most respected human rights organizations, with a movement of more than 10 million people across the globe. She leads the efforts to protect and support human rights defenders around the world while overseeing emergency assistance for those facing persecution because of their peaceful work. With more than two decades of experience spanning research, advocacy, and campaigning, Guadalupe has worked alongside defenders across Latin America and beyond, helping ensure they are not left to face these risks alone. In this conversation, she introduces us to the remarkable people behind the title "human rights defender." We discuss why attacks against defenders are increasing across the globe, the communities most at risk, Amnesty International's work to protect them, and why safeguarding those who defend the rights of others is essential to protecting human rights for us all. SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript Here Amnesty International Get Involved with Amnesty International Instagram: Amnesty International Facebook: Amnesty International TikTok: Amnesty International LinkedIn: Amnesty International  Human Rights Defenders Memorial Rainforest Alliance Front Line Defenders Declaration on Human Rights Defenders +25 Report & Article Amnesty International: State of the World's Human Rights Report (2025) Why Protecting Human Rights Defenders Must Be a Priority for Us All by Guadalupe Marengo

    Guadalupe Marengo: Amnesty International, Head of the Global Human Rights Defenders Programme and Head of the Global Relief Programme

  6. Jun 20

    Professor Terry Coonan: Immigration Advocacy, Human Trafficking, and Interdisciplinary Human Rights

    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

  7. Jun 13

    Professor Manfred Nowak: Children Deprived of Liberty, Human Dignity & the Future of Human Rights

    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

    Professor Manfred Nowak: Children Deprived of Liberty, Human Dignity & the Future of Human Rights

  8. May 30

    Brian Derrick: Political Strategist and Founder of Oath

    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

    Brian Derrick: Political Strategist and Founder of Oath
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

For over fifty years, Professor Bert Lockwood has had a front-row seat to the evolution of international human rights law. Now, he and his daughter, Meredith Lockwood, who has followed in his footsteps, are sharing that expertise with you. Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations is a compelling podcast dedicated to exploring the multifaceted world of human rights, co-hosted by this father-daughter duo. Through engaging, intergenerational dialogues, they connect to the powerful stories and insights of distinguished guests, including former presidents, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, political leaders, and the world’s leading scholars and activists. The show’s mission is to bridge the past and present, making complex human rights issues approachable and understandable for everyone. If you have any suggestions for future guests or topics for conversations, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you! Email: humanrightsconversations@gmail.com Website: www.meredithlockwood.com 

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