Declarations

Are human rights the best way to view reproductive healthcare? From thousands of Polish women protesting over restrictive abortion laws, to President Trump’s reinstating of the "global gag rule" banning NGOs from offering advice about abortion, we unpack the link between reproduction, rights, and the real people affected. Joining us this week are three guests from Cambridge University’s Reproductive Sociology Research Group: Dr Katie Dow, Dr Mwenza Blell, and Dr Robert Pralat.

Governments use database technology to both deliver social services and surveil populations. However, with this power comes crucial questions. Is arbitrarily violating people's privacy necessary for national security? Who controls how surveillance technology is used? Research officer Claire Lauterbach from Privacy International joins Declarations to discuss these complex issues surrounding privacy. In this episode, we explore Claire's research on different surveillance programs throughout the world and why the "collect-it-all" paradigm of certain intelligence agencies is so problematic.

President Trump's so-called "Muslim ban" has upended thousands of lives, leaving immigrants and refugees wondering if they can enter the United States. This week, we sit down with immigration lawyer Ben Gharagozli and Canadian-Somali researcher Surer Mohamed to unpack the complexities of the issue. In this episode, Ben analyzes the profound legal problems with this contested immigration executive order, and Surer explores the ban's moral problems, as well as the anxieties it has exacerbated among its targets. NOTE: We recorded on Friday, February 4th. Since then, a U.S. appeals court has temporarily halted Trump's ban, but the fear and uncertainty it has caused still remains.

This week, we sent Matt Mahmoudi to London to interview Dr. Thomas MacManus about the persecution of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority population in Myanmar that has faced increasing violence from the Myanmar government in recent months. Thousands have fled their homes, and the government has banned access for journalists and aid organizations. Is this the beginning of genocide? As one of the few researchers to be granted access close to where the Rohingya live, Dr. MacManus provides an ideal introduction to the situation. And after the interview, our regular CGHR panel convenes to analyze the deeper roots of the conflict in Myanmar. Why has renowned leader Aung San Suu Kyi remained silent, and what power do states really have to prevent genocide? Dr. Thomas MacManus teaches at Queen Mary University of London. Learn more about his International State Crime Initiative at www.statecrime.org. This episode's music was composed by the machine-learning algorithm at JukeDeck. Create your own

In the aftermath of the Syrian Civil War, disarray over the current refugee crisis has created enormous political anxieties in Europe. But to what extent is this a European "crisis"? Are the almost 5 million refugees in Syria's neighbouring countries able to access socio-economic provisions, particularly in Lebanon? Is this an unprecedented situation, or a new chapter in an ongoing story of refugee rights and state responsibilities? This week's guests are Dima Krayem (PhD student in Development Studies) and Stefan Theil (Students of Cambridge Refugee Scholarship).

Over the last few years, thousands of students have begun campaigns calling their universities to divest their endowments from fossil fuels. What is the case for fossil fuel divestment? How do these campaigns relate to human rights issues? And is there any hope of mitigating the future impacts of climate change, given the unwillingness of some governments to even acknowledge fossil fuel dependency as a legitimate problem? This week's guests are Chris Galpin and Emma Bryan (Cambridge Zero Carbon Society) and Carys Goodwin (former New Zealand Green Party staffer).

In our first holiday special, Max, Matt, and Scott explore the many debates around Christmas and cultural rights. Why does Fox News always talk about a 'War on Christmas'? Are the holidays a sacred time for avoiding political topics, such as Trump or Brexit? And if we do talk politics with family, how can we do so in a productive manner?

Who has the power to remake cities? We ask Dr Graham Denyer Willis about security, democracy, and development in urban environments in places like Brazil and America. Human rights have transformed modern cities — but do they empower the people who live there?

In an age where states and even ordinary people have the power to produce fake news, how do we verify whether a supposed human rights abuse is real or staged online? Human rights and digital media expert Dr Ella McPherson explores this problem and her work to address it. (NOTE: Dr McPherson is currently on maternity leave, but she graciously agreed to be on this episode. This interview contains some minor background noises from Ella's baby.)

Where do rights come from, and what's the point of talking about them? In our very first episode, the panel meets with Dr Sharath Srinivasan, director of Cambridge's Centre of Governance and Human Rights. No one understands these important, foundational questions of human rights better than him. Trust us, we've checked.