Human Rights Tracks

Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg | FAU CHREN

”Human Rights Tracks” ist ein Programm des Center for Human Rights an der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN). Hier diskutieren wir mit Expertinnen und Experten aktuelle, kuriose und kontroverse Themen – und sind dabei immer den Menschenrechten auf der Spur. ‘Human Rights Tracks’ is a programme of the Center for Human Rights at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN). Here we discuss current, curious and controversial topics with experts - always following the tracks of human rights.

Episodes

  1. 10/20/2025

    HRT No. 7: The transformative power of social rights

    In this episode, we explore the transformative potential of social rights with Dr. Octávio Ferraz, Professor at King's College London and Co-Director of the Transnational Law Institute. We discuss the importance of social rights and the challenges that arise when their judicialization is disconnected from egalitarian principles. In other words: how can social rights fulfill their transformative promises, and when might certain forms of judicialization actually entrench social inequalities? Dr. Ferraz’s research focuses on human rights and development, particularly the role of law and courts in advancing social justice, equality, and redress for poverty. His recent work has also dived into democracy and environmental protection, with a focus on the Amazon. His book Judging Social Rights, published by Cambridge University Press, is available here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/judging-social-rights/judging-social-rights/DC11AD44DD919925F0271D278C438822   Sources: https://repository.essex.ac.uk/9789/1/human-rights-council-statement-maternal-mortality-panel-june-2008.pdf https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/sites/www.un.org.peacebuilding/files/2._ohchr_thematic_paper_on_escrs_and_sdgs.pdfhttps://www.constituteproject.org/topics https://www.wcfia.harvard.edu/publications/not-enough-human-rights-unequal-worldhttps://www.hhrjournal.org/2013/08/29/the-right-to-health-in-the-courts-of-brazil-worsening-health-inequities/ https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-right-to-health-in-the-courts-of-brazil-still-worsening-healt

    35 min
  2. 05/12/2025

    HRT No. 6: Der Koalitionsvertrag unter der Lupe: migrations- und integrationspolitische Vorhaben der neuen Bundesregierung

    Am 5. Mai 2025 unterschrieben die Parteivorsitzenden CDU/CSU und SPD den Koalitionsvertrag. Wenig später berichteten Medien, dass man im Kanzleramt einen nationalen Notstand für den Bereich Migration erwäge - der Kanzler dementierte. Dennoch: Die Bundesregierung informiert dieser Tage die Botschafter:innen der Nachbarstaaten über die Grenzverschärfung, die der neue Innenminister Dobrindt angekündigt hatte.  Mit der Migrationswissenschaftlerin Prof. Dr. Petra Bendel (FAU) nehmen wir in dieser Folge den Koalitionsvertrag unter die Lupe und sprechen über die migrations- und integrationspolitischen Vorhaben der neuen Bundesregierung.   Prof. Dr. Petra Bendel ist Professorin für Politische Wissenschaft am Institut für Politische Wissenschaft der FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. Dort leitet sie den Forschungsbereich Migration, Flucht und Integration (MFI). Sie ist Gründungsmitglied des Center for Human Rights (CHREN) Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Deutschland, wo sie eine Vielzahl von Forschungsprojekten, aber auch praxisorientierten Pilotprojekten zu migrationsrelevanten Themen leitet.   Quellen: Friedrich Merz ruft „nationale Notlage“ bei Migration aus - WELT Bundesregierung dementiert Welt-Bericht: „Wir rufen keinen nationalen Notstand aus“ Verantwortung für Deutschland – Koalitionsvertrag zwischen CDU, CSU und SPD Bundestagswahl-Analyse: Warum Deutschland so gewählt hat - ZDFheute https://www.svr-migration.de/publikation/fakten-zur-asylpolitik/ Migration: Wissenschaftler warnen vor Politik der Härte - Meinung - DER SPIEGEL

    30 min
  3. 01/23/2025

    HRT No. 3: Empowering communities at the intersection of climate justice, migration and human rights

    This is the second episode of a mini-series exploring the connection between the climate crisis, migration and human rights. This time, Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo and Jocelyn Perry help us get to the bottom of how climate change drives displacement and enhances other crises, such as poverty, loss of livelihood, and tensions relating to dwindling resources. We, then, also discuss what is being done in terms of advocacy, litigation, and policy responses to mitigate these effects.   Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo is the founding and executive director of the Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (3CSD), a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Law at University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She holds a PhD in International environmental law.   Jocelyn Perry is the senior advocate and program manager of the climate displacement program at Refugees International. She is also completing a Doctorate in Public Policy at the University of Oxford focusing on stakeholder involvement in climate adaptation planning across the United States.   Jocelyn Perry and Oluwatoyin Adejonwo were both speakers at the 2024 FFVT Summer School on Forced Migration and Governance. The collaborative project "Forced Migration and Refugee Studies: Networking and Knowledge Transfer” (FFVT) aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research on forced migration and refugees in Germany.    Sources: 'Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it particularly impacts the displaced' | UNHCR Climate change and displacement: the myths and the facts - World | ReliefWeb Enhancing protection and empowerment of migrants and communities affected by climate change and disasters in the Pacific region (Kiribati, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji) | International Labour Organization Global Compact on Refugees – booklet | UNHCR Advisory Board Members | The Global Compact on Refugees | UNHCR ETR-2024-web.pdf How Climate Migration Will Reshape America - The New York Times

    48 min
  4. 12/17/2024

    HRT No. 2: Explaining the nexus: the climate crisis, migration and human rights

    We are diving into a mini-series exploring the connection between the climate crisis, migration and human rights. During the first of these episodes, we have the pleasure to talk to Walter Kälin, professor emeritus of international and constitutional law, at the University of Bern, Switzerland. Walter Kälin is the present Envoy of the Chair of the Platform on Disaster Displacement. With his help, we are aiming to get the numbers and facts right, and to understand the big concepts that govern the discussion, for example "forced displacement". We are also taking a look at political responses at the international, regional and national levels.   Walter Kälin was a speaker at the 2024 FFVT Summer School on Forced Migration and Governance. The collaborative project "Forced Migration and Refugee Studies: Networking and Knowledge Transfer” (FFVT) aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research on forced migration and refugees in Germany.    Sources: “Intolerable tide” of people displaced by climate change: UN expert | OHCHR Climate change and displacement: the myths and the facts Data reveals impacts of climate emergency on displacement | UNHCR Climate change could become the biggest driver of displacement: UNHCR chief | UNHCR Asia Pacific IDMC_GRID_2023_Global_Report_on_Internal_Displacement_HQ.pdf Groundswell Report Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2023 Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee - A Statement by Argentina - Platform on Disaster Displacement Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility | Global Forum on Migration and Development Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change | UNFCCC

    30 min
  5. 11/18/2024

    HRT No. 1: Going against torture. How to hold powerful states accountable?

    We are proud to launch our new podcast "Human Rights Tracks" with an episode on combatting torture featuring CHREN postdoctoral researcher Dr Janina Heaphy. Janina’s research predominantly revolves around diplomacy, security studies and human rights with one of my projects exploring for instance strategic accountability campaigns against the use of torture and targeted killings in Western counterterrorist operations. She has interviewed a lot of people that are usually very hard to talk to – for instance former high-ranked CIA and military investigators, the former legal advisor to George W. Bush, or the former Attorney General of England and Wales. So – against common believe – Janina’s work very much shows: Research never gets boring. Enjoy listening and stay true to human rights!   Audio file at 00:17 by CNN "⁠Obama: We tortured some folks⁠'" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBLNohqquRk   Other sources PhD project: https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/entities/publication/ed166714-e73a-4e0f-a588-35c15f929402 Senate Select Committee Intelligence Report (USA) on Torture: https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CRPT-113srpt288.pdf BND Untersuchungsausschuss: https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/16/134/1613400.pdf ISC Report (UK) Detainee Mistreatment and Rendition 2001-2010: https://isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20180628-HC1113-Report-Detainee-Mistreatment-and-Rendition-2001-10.pdf Example for Human Rights First Campaign : https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/top-interrogators-declare-torture-ineffective-in-intelligence-gathering/

    28 min

About

”Human Rights Tracks” ist ein Programm des Center for Human Rights an der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN). Hier diskutieren wir mit Expertinnen und Experten aktuelle, kuriose und kontroverse Themen – und sind dabei immer den Menschenrechten auf der Spur. ‘Human Rights Tracks’ is a programme of the Center for Human Rights at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN). Here we discuss current, curious and controversial topics with experts - always following the tracks of human rights.