International Bar Association: Global Insight podcasts: Recent Episodes
IBA Global Insight
IBA Global Insight's podcast series covers a variety of themes in law, business and human rights, and features high-level speakers.
The content within IBA Global Insight podcasts does not represent the views of the International Bar Association.
China’s latest five-year plan reaffirmed support for the country’s clean energy transition, following its pledge to reduce economy-wide net greenhouse-gas emissions in absolute terms, by seven to ten per cent from peak levels by 2035.
While China remains the world’s largest annual greenhouse-gas emitter, its stated policy direction contrasts sharply with that of the US – the world’s second-largest annual emitter – where President Donald Trump has sought to expand oil and gas production and rolled back green initiatives as part of an effort to ‘unleash’ American energy.
In this podcast, our speakers consider the challenges and opportunities facing China, as well as the implications for other parts of the world, particularly India and Africa.
With:
- Yuhua Yang, partner at Thornhill Legal, London – a China-centric international practice
- Christoph Nedopil Wang of the Griffith Asia Institute, Brisbane – a research institute focusing on new opportunities and major challenges in Asia and the Pacific
- Avirup Nag, partner in the M&A and Energy & Infrastructure Team, Saraf & Partners, New Delhi
Image: Molten salt tower solar thermal power station in Jiuquan, Gansu Province, China 泰豪 顾/Adobe StockThis podcast contains a clip from a Southern Finance Omnimedia Corporation interview with Selwin Hart, Special Adviser and Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Action at United Nations, available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=idTZYWXJmHA
Ten years ago, the UK voted to leave the EU, leading to a sustained period of upheaval and uncertainty. A decade on, Brexit continues to affect everything from defence and security to the economy, tech, AI and the rule of law.
This Global Insight podcast assesses the UK's relationship with the EU, which the UK government has recently sought to ‘reset’.
With:
- Benjamin Martill, Associate Fellow in the ‘UK in the World’ Programme at think-tank Chatham House;
- Sarah Andrew, Legal and Campaign Director, Avaaz;
- Catherine Barnard, Professor of EU Law at the University of Cambridge, and
- Kerstin Mathias, Director, International Affairs at trade association UK Finance.
The independence of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) from political interference is central to the rule of law in America.
Critics argue that, during President Trump’s second term, this principle has come under pressure on several fronts, including allegations that the President has pressed the department to pursue cases against his opponents for personal or political reasons.
Concerns have also been raised about conflicts of interest and the leadership of the DOJ: former Attorney General Pam Bondi was a close ally of President Trump who served on his first impeachment defence team, while current Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche previously represented Trump in several criminal cases. Bondi was removed from the role in April, reportedly amid controversy over her handling of the Epstein files and frustration within the administration over the pace of politically sensitive prosecutions.
While there are concerns, court rulings and institutional pushback suggest that the wider US justice system continues to provide some counterbalance.
This IBA Global Insight podcast features:
- Gene Rossi, former federal prosecutor; shareholder, Carlton Fields, Washington DC
- Richard Painter, Associate Counsel to the President and Chief White House Ethics Lawyer under President George W Bush; Professor of Corporate Law, University of Minnesota
- Glenn Kirschner, former DOJ prosecutor with 30 years of trial experience, Washington DC
Image: US Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche depart following a closed-door briefing for members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein investigation and compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, 18 March 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
The US government’s decision to issue waivers for sanctions on Russian oil in March has proven highly controversial and at odds with the position of the EU and the UK for example, who have insisted that despite the global economic situation it is crucial to maintain pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine via sanctions. This IBA Global Insight podcast explores the issues.
Chile Eboe Osuji has for 30 years stood at the forefront of international law and justice. He has served as a judge of the International Criminal Court as well as prosecution counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and on the Special Court for Sierra Leone, among other notable positions, during that time. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986, he now sits as a judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice. He is a published author, with his latest book The End of Immunity exploring the history and concept of immunity from foreign prosecution for heads of state.
In this IBA Global Insight podcast he discusses his experiences, counters criticisms of the mechanics of the international legal system and explains the importance of peace as an 'actionable right'.
From sustained attacks on the judiciary to a crisis in legal aid and the administration of justice, the rule of law is under significant pressure in the UK. It has therefore never been more important to protect and strengthen it, says a recent report entitled ‘Rule of law: holding the line between anarchy and tyranny’, from the House of Lords Constitution Committee. This Global Insight podcast hears from three members of the Committee about why the rule of law matters.
With:
- Lord Strathclyde, Chair, House of Lords Constitution Committee
- Lady Laing, Member of Parliament 1997–2024
- Lord Anderson, Barrister, former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation
In this Global Insight podcast, Lord Richard Hermer KC, the Attorney General for England and Wales, discusses the essential role of international law in a world of rising geopolitical tensions, the future of the ECHR and the criminal justice system, and the drive to educate young people and the wider public about the rule of law.
Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over an edit of a speech he made on 6 Jan 2021 has raised legal and ethical questions, and has brought a focus on the potentially chilling effects on freedom of speech.
Considering the issues in this Global Insight podcast are:
- Nick Pollard, former Head of Sky News; former Chairman, UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) Content Committee
- Gill Phillips, former Director of Legal Services, The Guardian; member, Centre for Investigative Journalism Board of Trustees
- Mark Stephens, media and defamation lawyer, Howard Kennedy; Co-Chair, IBA's Human Rights Institute
- Alan Rusbridger, former Editor, The Guardian
While US President Donald Trump and his administration’s foreign policy creates debate over international law and conduct, his unorthodox behaviour both domestically and internationally has also received criticism in terms of disregard for ethics and for presidential norms.
From profiting from crypto investments while being responsible for the rules governing the sector, to seeking to use his power to punish political enemies, the scale and conspicuousness of Trump’s activities has repeatedly fallen outside the boundaries of what would normally be considered acceptable conduct in Washington.
Further, some place a spotlight on the ‘presidential exemptions’ of which Trump has sought to take advantage.
President Trump, his administration and family members have denied any conflicts of interest or wrongdoing in terms of ethics, including regarding the cryptocurrency sector, gifts from foreign states and perceived promotion of specific companies.
Discussing the issues in this Global Insight podcast:
- Richard Painter, Associate Counsel to the President and chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W Bush
- Kedric Payne, Campaign Legal Center, Washington, DC and former Deputy Chief Counsel at the Office of Congressional Ethics
- Jonathan Katz, Governance Studies Fellow, Brookings; Co-Editor, 2025 Democracy Playbook
As AI increasingly becomes ingrained in many aspects of everyday life, there’s a danger that important safeguards and risks are sidelined. In this Global Insight podcast, IBA Multimedia Journalist Alice Johnson speaks to leading international human rights lawyer and technology law specialist, Susie Alegre, about human rights concerns, regulations and why AI can’t solve all the problems of the criminal justice system.
The approach to international institutions, cooperation and development from the current US administration has significant implications for areas such as soft power and global justice.
The speakers discussing the issues in this Global Insight podcast, taken from an IBA webinar earlier this year, include those with senior experience in previous US administrations.
With:* Beth Van Schaack, Senior Fellow, Center for Human Rights and International Justice, Stanford; former US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice;
* John Bellinger, Co-Chair, Global Law and Public Policy Group, Arnold & Porter, Washington, DC; former Legal Adviser to the US Department of State and Senior Associate Counsel to President George W Bush; and
* Mark Ellis, Executive Director, IBA
* Alberto Mora, Former Senior Fellow, Harvard Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, former General Counsel, US Navy
Today’s economic and political climate presents the BRICS countries with a number of challenges and opportunities – from internal cooperation, to BRICS Pay, to navigating relations with the US. Considering the issues in this Global Insight podcast are:* Michael Diaz, Global Managing Partner, Diaz Reus; * Mihaela Papa, Director of Research leading the BRICS Lab, MIT Centre for International Studies; and * Hans-Dieter Holtzmann, Project Director for Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
After over 20 weeks of hearings, the High Court in London recently ruled that the UK government acted lawfully in continuing to supply F-35 jet parts to Israel through a global pool. While acknowledging the parts could be used in ways that breach international humanitarian law, the judges said the issue is one for the executive, ‘not for the courts’.
The case, brought by Palestinian NGO Al-Haq, challenged the UK’s decision to exempt the parts when it suspended 30 arms export licences to Israel in September. Though dismissed, the case has spotlighted UK arms exports and the government's assessment of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In this Global Insight podcast, IBA Multimedia Journalist Alice Johnson speaks to Jennine Walker, senior lawyer at Global Legal Action Network and part of the team who represented Al-Haq in the case, and Sara Elizabeth Dill, an international human rights lawyer and officer of the IBA’s War Crimes Committee.
Additional comment comes from David Lammy MP, UK Foreign Secretary, at a Foreign Affairs Committee meeting.
Digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and NFTs emerged as disruptors, designed to challenge traditional financial systems and sidestep conventional regulation. But, as these technologies have developed, so too have legal frameworks. At the end of 2024, MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) entered into force in the EU, and the US House of Representatives is set to consider three crypto-related bills in summer 2025, including the GENIUS Act, which seeks to establish the first comprehensive federal framework for the issuance, regulation and oversight of payment stablecoins in the United States.
In this Global Insight podcast, four experts — who spoke at the IBA’s Annual Conference in Mexico — explore the effect regulation can have on digital assets:
* Luis Urrutia, Deputy General Counsel, International Monetary Fund;
* Lee Pascoe, Special Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright;
* Drew Hinkes, digital assets partner at Winston & Strawn;
* Jon Frost, Head of Innovation and the Digital Economy unit at the Bank for International Settlement;
From enormous political donations and influence on US government policy to dominance in shaping narratives on social media, Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been the most prominent of a number of billionaires and companies impacting the course of democracy and the rule of law.
In this podcast, Mark Stephens CBE, Co-Chair of the IBA’s Human Rights Institute, George Havenhand, Senior Legal Researcher at Spotlight on Corruption, and Courtney Radsch, Director at the Centre for Journalism and Liberty, discuss the issues and what needs to be done to safeguard against undue influence.
Laws around beneficial ownership – identifying the ultimate owners of corporate entities - are intended to be a tool to provide transparency and to combat corruption, terrorist financing and other human rights abuses. However, such legislation and related proposals have been criticised by some as disproportionate and sometimes contradictory to other rights. Meanwhile, legal professionals must increasingly navigate growing due diligence and reporting requirements and regulatory scrutiny in this area.
In this podcast, compiled from a session at the IBA’s Annual Conference, our speakers consider the issues:
- Mark Stephens, Co-Chair, IBA Human Rights Institute;
- Babatunde Ajibade, Chair, IBA Section on Public and Professional Interest; and
- Greg McIntyre, former President, Law Council of Australia.
Radical changes in US policy under the presidency of Donald Trump, from foreign aid to global trade and beyond, are having a profound impact on the rest of the world. This Global Insight podcast explores the implications for the rule of law, international relations and global security.
With:
- Mary O’Connell, Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law, Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame, Indiana
- Heela Rasool-Ayub, Director, Planetary Politics initiative, New America think tank
- Kim Lane Scheppele, Laurance S Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University, New Jersey
- Ken Murphy, Immediate Past Chair, IBA Bar Issues Commission; former Director General, Law Society of Ireland
Afghanistan: confronting gender apartheid
The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 after the sudden withdrawal of Western forces, implementing an interpretation of strict Sharia law that has especially affected women and girls.
Since then, international relations have worsened. In early 2025, the ICC sought arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over gender-based persecution, prompting Afghanistan to withdraw from the court, condemning the action as baseless and politically motivated. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to bring a case to the International Court of Justice over alleged violations of a UN anti-discrimination treaty. A Taliban spokesperson has stated that the Taliban respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and local customs.
In this Global Insight podcast, our speakers consider the situation in Afghanistan, described by some as ‘gender apartheid’.
With:
* Fawzia Amini, former Afghan Supreme Court judge, now in the UK
* Tamana Paryani, Afghan women’s rights activist based in Germany
* Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan
The need for financial assistance for developing nations to address the effects of the climate crisis and to transition to low-carbon economies continues to grow. But the specifics on how much and how to implement this have been the subject of intense negotiation.
At the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), what’s known as the New Collective Quantified Goal was agreed on after negotiators agreed to raise $300 billion a year in climate finance – triple the original $100 billion target – by 2035. However, this figure doesn’t account for inflation, and some feel it still falls short of what is needed to tackle the severity of the crisis.
Podcast speakers:
* David Waskow, Director of the International Climate Initiative at the World Resources Institute, Washington, DC
* Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, New Delhi
* Emily Morison, Project Lawyer, IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit
The EU’s AI Act came into force in 2024 and will regulate Artificial Intelligence systems in the European Union based on which ‘risk category’ they fit into. Its provisions will mostly become applicable over the next two years.
The Act is far from the only piece of legislation or agreement covering AI in the EU, with others including the updated Product Liability Directive, a proposed AI Liability Directive and the Council of Europe Framework on Artificial Intelligence.
In this Global Insight podcast, we consider the significance of the developments with:
- Marc Rotenberg, President of the Center for AI and Digital Policy and Chair of the IBA’s AI Task Force
- Susie Alegre, human rights barrister and author on the impact of AI on human rights
- Ed Turtle, a senior lawyer on the Products Team at Cooley, focusing on tech and AI products; also an officer on the IBA Product Law and Advertising Committee
In April 2024, a group of older Swiss women successfully argued before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) that the Swiss government was failing to take sufficient action on climate change, violating their human rights as a disproportionately affected group under the European Convention on Human Rights. However, the Swiss parliament rejected the judgment in Klimaseniorinnen v Switzerland, claiming the ECtHR had overstepped its legal boundaries and engaged in ‘inappropriate judicial activism’, a stance later supported by the Swiss Federal Council, the country’s highest executive authority.
Switzerland has since presented a National Action Report on climate instead, which critics argue will not adequately implement the Court’s judgment.
This podcast explores the impact and fallout of the case.
With:
- Richard Harvey, Legal Counsel at Greenpeace UK
- Elizabeth Stern, claimant in KlimaSeniorinnen v Switzerland
- Professor Annalisa Savaresi, Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law at the University of East Finland; University of Stirling, Scotland
Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election that saw Donald Trump become President offered shocking revelations. As US citizens prepare to vote in the presidential election, with Trump once more a presidential candidate, Global Insight assesses the Mueller investigation, its report and the bearing on the rule of law in the US, through to today.
Featuring:* Glenn Kirschner, former US Department of Justice prosecutor, Washington, DC * Matt Kaiser, Kaiser law firm, Washington, DC; Senior Vice-Chair, IBA Criminal Law Committee * Shan Wu, former federal prosecutor, Washington, DC
Following a divided vote by its member states in October, the EU can now impose extra tariffs of up to 35.3% on electric vehicles – EVs – imported from China for the next five years.
The vote follows moves by the US Biden administration earlier in 2024 to raise tariffs on Chinese computer chips, EVs, clean energy technologies and metals imported from China – part of an ongoing series of measures from the countries in recent years in the US-China trade war.
In mid-2024, the UK enacted a law quashing the convictions of hundreds of sub-postmasters after many were wrongly prosecuted for theft and fraud due to accounting errors in the software – Horizon – used by their employer, the Post Office. This scandal, alongside other recent controversies, has placed the spotlight on IT outsourcing projects and the potential pitfalls, both for buyers and for the public.
More than 60 national elections have already taken place or will do so during 2024 – almost a third of them in Asia. Given its significant presence on the world stage, India’s election has been one of the most closely watched. The country’s lengthy voting process draws to a conclusion in early June in what’s expected to be a victory for incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party. But questions remain over the implications for human rights and the rule of law in a country of over 1.4 billion people. This podcast addresses the situation in India, Pakistan and Asia more broadly.
The Council of Europe recently voted to use seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction. The US House of Representatives has approved billions of dollars in aid to help Ukraine combat Russia's invasion, also authorising the US government to take frozen Russian central bank assets held in US jurisdictions to help rebuild the country. In April, Ukraine’s Register of Damage started taking claims relating to residential property – a first step in the international compensation mechanism, a framework established in response to recommendations by the UN.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which sits at the southern tip of the Red Sea, has become an increasingly dangerous chokepoint off the coast of Yemen, with the rebel Houthi group targeting merchant and other ships there linked to Israel, the US or UK for attack or seizure. The group’s motive is ‘retribution’ for Israel’s war in Gaza. The US and the UK and others have taken military action in response to the Houthi attacks, which have had a significant impact on global trade, as well as on delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen. Escalating conflict in the Middle East looks set to have continued impact on the Red Sea situation.
Following Vladimir Putin’s election victory for a fifth term – in a vote criticised by many international observers – Global Insight considers the significance of the result, the state of rule of law in Russia, and the major challenges now facing the international community and the Kremlin.
Despite being stretched financially, the ICC is not shying away from tackling the crimes perpetrated during conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and elsewhere. In this interview with IBA Director of Content James Lewis, Karim Khan KC speaks passionately about the significance of issuing an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin and the importance of moving at the speed of relevance.
The death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on 19 February shocked the world.
Global leaders were quick to condemn the Russian authorities for their role in the 47-year-old’s sudden and unexplained death. In the days that followed, hundreds of Russian civilians were arrested for laying tributes to the Kremlin critic.
Evgenia Kara-Murza, the wife of Russian political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, spoke to Global Insight recently about what life was like behind bars for members of the opposition, and why it’s so important for Russian citizens to keep challenging the regime both from inside and outside Russia.
Tech giants wield significant power in our daily lives. The scale at which they operate and their innovative use of technology can lead, however, to challenges in keeping their power in check on a number of fronts. This podcast assesses the ways in which governments, regulators, lawyers and the courts – as well as the tech companies themselves through self-regulation – are currently attempting to do this.
It's clear from reactions to COP28 that although some progress was made in the form of pledges and other agreements by states and corporations, for many the pace of change is too slow and action does not go far enough.
Recognising the effect that the climate crisis is having and will continue to have on human rights, particularly in the world’s poorest countries, the UN appointed a Special Rapporteur in this area in 2022.
In this Global Insight podcast, IBA Multimedia Journalist Yola Verbruggen talks to the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights, Ian Fry, about his mandate, the challenge of getting countries on board, climate refugees and potential legal routes to justice and accountability, such as climate litigation.
The legal landscape across Asia for LGBTQI+ rights is varied. Despite same-sex relationships being legal in many Asian countries – with Singapore most recently repealing Section 377A of its Penal Code, which criminalised sex between consenting males – in others they can be punishable by fines, prison and even the death penalty.
Most Asian countries do not legally recognise formal unions for same sex couples, but there have been some recent developments on this front. Certain Asian countries have either legalised or moved towards legalising same sex marriage - with Taiwan doing so in 2019, Nepal registering its first such marriage in November 2023 and Thailand currently set to vote on a same-sex marriage bill. However, an October 2023 Supreme Court ruling in India declined to recognise same sex marriage.
Diego García Sayán was the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges from 2016–2022. Prior to this he performed numerous roles within the UN, was a judge on the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and held positions in the government of his native Peru.
In this interview with the IBA’s Director of Content, James Lewis, he discusses major rule of law themes, including his involvement in peace negotiations in Latin America, reform of the UN, the importance of the 2030 sustainability agenda, and how to protect the independence of lawyers and judges.
Former President Donald Trump is facing a series of ongoing legal troubles, in this podcast we focus on some of Trump’s criminal indictments. These include allegations that he violated Georgia's Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, conspired to defraud the US, mishandled classified documents and falsified business records. He has pleaded not guilty or otherwise denied the charges in all cases.
An influx of billionaire owners and private equity into the English Premier League has put club governance, and the financial sustainability of the wider game, under scrutiny in recent years.
As the Premier League season got underway amidst a plethora of disruptive transfers to Saudi Arabia, the UK government reported on its consultations with the professional football community on governance, following the publication of a White Paper earlier in the year. Could its proposals hold the answers?
The effect of the climate crisis are set to have a disproportionate impact on developing countries. Significant attention is now being paid to what should be done, and by whom, to mitigate the consequences and upload human rights. So what does this ‘climate justice mean’?
From chatbots to smart assistants to powerful algorithms, AI is everywhere, bringing with it opportunities and potential benefits, but also ethical and practical concerns. The law is crucial in addressing a technology that has the potential to outpace human development. This podcast examines issues of ethics, liability and applications of AI to the legal profession, as well as the challenges of implementing regulatory frameworks around AI.
The role of corporations in being part of both the problem and the solution of the climate crisis and sustainability has never been more pronounced. Pressure from activist investors and financial institutions is holding companies increasingly accountable for their environmental, social and governance, or ESG, performance. This podcast addresses the role of lawyers in the intersection of climate change, sustainability and corporate governance.
2022 was a tumultuous year for cryptocurrencies. One of the world's largest crypto exchanges, FTX, collapsed, filing for bankruptcy in November – and it wasn’t the only casualty, as other exchanges as well as crypto hedge funds also went under during the year. In this Global Insight podcast, we question whether the crypto industry needs greater regulation, or greater enforcement of regulation – or perhaps both.
Evgenia Kara-Murza is the wife of Russian political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is currently imprisoned in Russia on charges of treason.
In this interview with James Lewis, IBA Director of Content, she discusses her husband’s and her own activism, the media in Russia, the repressive Putin regime, and how she maintains hope in the darkest of times.
The war in Ukraine has compelled countries to impose increasingly stringent sanctions on Russia. However, the effectiveness of sanctions, and their implications for human rights, are coming under growing scrutiny. This Global Insight podcast examines the intended – and unintended – consequences of this foreign policy and security tool.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in climate litigation worldwide as claimants seek to hold both governments and corporate actors to account for how their actions – or inactions – are contributing to the climate crisis. Cases have focused on a variety of human rights concerns and areas including energy transition, emissions reductions and protecting biodiversity.
In this podcast, IBA Global Insight assesses the trends in climate litigation and looks at its potential long-term impact.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in climate litigation worldwide as claimants seek to hold both governments and corporate actors to account for how their actions – or inactions – are contributing to the climate crisis. Cases have focused on a variety of human rights concerns and areas including energy transition, emissions reductions and protecting biodiversity.
In this podcast, IBA Global Insight assesses the trends in climate litigation and looks at its potential long-term impact.
From Europe to the Pacific Ocean, China is set to play an ever-greater role in the world. It has deepened its strategic alliance with Russia, and China's moves in respect of the Ukraine conflict are therefore closely watched. Meanwhile, observers speculate as to what action action - if any - it might take forward towards Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of China. Democratic countries are also taking further steps to counter Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific region.
From Europe to the Pacific Ocean, China is set to play an ever-greater role in the world. It has deepened its strategic alliance with Russia, and China's moves in respect of the Ukraine conflict are therefore closely watched. Meanwhile, observers speculate as to what action action - if any - it might take forward towards Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of China. Democratic countries are also taking further steps to counter Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific region.
In August 2021, the Taliban takeover and withdrawal of international troops triggered a refugee crisis and Afghanistan descended into chaos. One year on, Global Insight assesses the impact of these events – both on those who fled and those still left behind.
In this Global Insight podcast, we examine how both the corporate world and the international justice system can hold perpetrators of war crimes and the crime of aggression to account, and assess the failures of international systems to provide security to date.
For years, multinationals have frustrated world governments with the innovative ways they’ve avoided hefty tax bills. But in October 2021, the G20 – comprising 19 countries and the European Union – formally agreed to impose a new global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 per cent. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen declared that this ‘historic agreement’ will ‘end the damaging race to the bottom on corporation taxation’.
In this Global Insight interview, Martyn Day, co-founder of law firm Leigh Day, reflects on some of the most important cases he’s been involved in, including taking on the UK Ministry of Defence over allegations of British Army mistreatment of civilians and detainees – themes once again in the spotlight with news of SAS activity in Afghanistan.
The United States Supreme Court has overturned the constitutional right to abortion. Ruling in the case Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Court went beyond Mississippi’s request to allow it to ban abortion after 15 weeks’ pregnancy and fully overturned the two previous Supreme Court rulings, Roe and Casey, that had for 49 years made it unconstitutional to outlaw abortions pre-viability – that is, before a foetus could survive outside the womb, at around 24 weeks. Now, states will be able to restrict and ban abortion at any point in pregnancy.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the worst consequences of allowing oligarchs and other rich and powerful actors to exploit international legal and financial systems.
In this Global Insight podcast, we look at growing concerns over the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) – an intimidation tool frequently used to silence journalists, activists, critics and other public watchdogs.
In summer 2020, the statue of Edward Colston, a merchant and trader of enslaved persons, was toppled by protestors and pushed into the harbour in Bristol, England. The statue’s removal provoked both public applause and condemnation. The so-called ‘Colston Four’ were acquitted of criminal damage in January 2022; but the UK’s Attorney General is currently seeking clarification from the Court of Appeal over the legal arguments presented in the case.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February, has resulted in the displacement of millions of Ukrainians. The responses taken by governments around the world – such as the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive by the EU – and the challenges being faced have prompted questions around how best to assist displaced people, while the situation has also highlighted the continuing plight of refugees from Afghanistan and other crisis zones.
In this Global Insight podcast, we explore the unprecedented reaction to the plight of Ukrainian refugees and the need for a coordinated, compassionate international response, and assess the situation for displaced people from other conflict zones, such as Afghanistan. Discussing these issues are:
- Matt Saltmarsh, Head of News and Media for the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR;
- Greg Siskind, Vice-Chair of the IBA Immigration and Nationality Law Committee and a founding partner at Siskind Susser in Memphis; and
- Alex Stojicevic, Refugee Officer of the IBA Immigration and Nationality Law Committee and founding and managing partner of MKS Lawyers in Vancouver.
As Sandie Okoro moves on from her position as General Counsel and Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, Global Insight looks back to her interview with IBAHRI Director Helena Kennedy in late 2021 in this edited podcast. Okoro discusses her varied experiences in the legal profession, the importance of diversity, inclusion and adaptability in business, the role of General Counsel and the mission and workings of the World Bank.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shone a light on the challenges of prosecuting war criminals. Global Insight interviewed Professor Philip Leach earlier this year, as he was stepping down from his role as director of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre. Leach, a professor of human rights law at Middlesex University, spoke to us again a month after the conflict began.
Despite weeks of escalating tensions, the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in the early hours of 24th February shocked the world. Just days earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was recognising the rebel-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. Up to that point, a full-scale invasion had seemed almost inconceivable, but suddenly Europe was faced with its largest conflict since the Second World War.
In this Global Insight podcast, we look at the background to the Ukraine crisis, Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign and the role of sanctions in fighting aggression and autocracy.
Examining these issues are:
- Olga Lautman, an expert in Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe and a Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis.
- Bill Browder is CEO of Hermitage Capital Management and a long-time supporter of stronger sanctions against Russia.
- Daria Kaleniuk, executive director and co-founded of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre in Kyiv (AntAC)
In this podcast, drawn from an interview at the IBA’s Global Showcase event in late 2021, Fawzia Koofi speaks about the devastating impact of the Taliban takeover, particularly on women’s rights and religious minorities. She also addresses the US withdrawal from the country and shares her views on the role of the international community in the crisis.
Koofi is a prominent Afghan politician and activist, who was nominated in 2020 for the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in representing the Afghan government in negotiations with the Taliban and her work to uphold women’s rights in the country. Formerly a member of the Afghan Parliament and the Vice-President of the National Assembly, she is now the leader of a newly established political party, Movement for Change for Afghanistan – and the first woman to lead a political party in the country.
The situation in Afghanistan remains volatile. As reports reveal up to 8 million people are facing starvation, Koofi’s hopes and fears for the country’s future are all the more significant.
The assault on the United States Capitol on 6 January 2021 represents perhaps the starkest manifestation of a US democracy in crisis. But the strains on democracy have been evident elsewhere - from a plethora of bills being put forward across state legislatures that critics warn undermine voting rights, to a series of controversies surrounding the make-up and even legitimacy of the US Supreme Court, itself a vital component of the US democratic apparatus.
Assessing the issues are:
Sarah Turberville, Director of the Constitution Project at the Project on Government Oversight Sophia Lin Lakin, Deputy Director of the Voting Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union Professor Paul Smith, Professor From Practice at Georgetown Law and Vice President for Litigation and Strategy at the Campaign Legal Center Fred Davis, former Co-Chair of the IBA Business Crime Committee and a lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School
It is almost two decades since the International Criminal Court was established to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In this podcast, Global Insight speaks to the first two prosecutors – Luis Moreno Ocampo and Fatou Bensouda – and one of the ICC’s key special advisers – Leila Sadat – about the ongoing challenges facing the ICC and what lies ahead for the Court as its third prosecutor, Karim Khan, settles into the role.
COP26 in Glasgow aims to accelerate movement towards the targets set in the 2015 Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. With the Covid-19 pandemic delaying 2020’s talks and urgent action needed to address the climate crisis, the world will be watching closely - not only the immediate outcomes, but longer-term efforts made by states and the private sector.
In early 2021, a joint report from four criminal justice watchdogs found significant delays plaguing access to justice in England and Wales – with 54,000 unheard cases as of the beginning of the year. Some of these cases may not be heard until 2023 or even 2024.
As Dominic Raab becomes the eighth Justice Secretary in a decade, the challenge to address the record backlog and fix Britain’s broken justice system has never been more acute.
In this podcast, our speakers discuss the causes and impact of the backlog and the measures proposed to alleviate them, including reopening Crown courtrooms, expanding the Nightingale temporary court system until March 2022 and modifying 71 courtrooms to hold large, multi-hander trials.
The Duma elections in Russia in September 2021 will define the composition of Russia’s lower house of parliament for the next five years. They come at a testing time for the Pro-Putin ruling party Edinaya Rossiya, whose popularity has plummeted following the controversial decision to raise the state retirement age in 2018 and, more recently, its mishandling of the pandemic.
In this IBA Global Insight podcast, we look at the continued efforts by the Russian authorities to suppress dissent and silence critics like Alexei Navalny and what these measures mean for the rule of law.
Over the past decade, the legal and judicial systems of some EU member states have frequently been at odds with the EU’s requirements of independence, impartiality and adherence to the rule of law.
Political appointments of judges and often spurious proceedings against them are among the issues causing tension, and Covid-19 has caused further aggravation.
Despite employing various measures to effect change, the situation has not improved. So what can be done?
Around the world, attacks on journalists and the press are growing exponentially. In this podcast, Global Insight examines the challenges and why freedom of expression and the media is so fundamental to a transparent and progressive society.
President Biden’s swift measures to put climate action back on the agenda for the United States at the start of his term show the impact elections can have. This podcast explores the international influence of the US and Chinese climate policies, the relationship between populism and climate inaction and the importance of global collaboration in tackling the climate crisis.
China's ambition and growth over the past two decades has been well documented, but what lies ahead? This podcast explores shifts in China's economic model, trade and technology, and assesses the potential impact of human rights and other issues on the country's development.
The Chinese government stands accused of genocide against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. China rejects the allegations. This podcast considers the measures the international community should be taking.
Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers on the US economic situation and how the Biden administration should approach the issues
The US presidential election in November presents an opportunity to take stock of the last four years and the Trump administration, which many agree has been characterised by a destructive approach to the international liberal order. In this podcast, foreign affairs experts Charlene Barshefsky, John Bellinger and Richard Haass give their views on how the United States should reengage and rebuild in 2021.
In this podcast, Dr Margaret Ng, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong between 1995 and 2012 and a founding member of the pro-democracy Basic Law Article 23 Concern Group, discusses the implications of the national security law recently enacted in Hong Kong by China, in conversation with IBA Multimedia Journalist Jennifer Venis.
The law has come under criticism for its draconian measures and a lack of consultation pre-implementation with the people of Hong Kong, and is widely seen as undermining the established concept of ‘one country, two systems’. #humanrights
Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and Sara Elizabeth Dill, Arab Regional Forum Liaison Officer for the IBA War Crimes Committee, consider the issues and look at specific developments across the Middle East. #humanrights
States have taken drastic action to combat Covid-19. But there is clear potential for abuse of the situation and a detrimental effect on the rule of law, says Baroness Helena Kennedy. #humanrights
In the wake of the Weinstein trial, Global Insight assesses how legal and judicial systems continue to let down victims of sexual harassment and violence #ustoo
Javaid Rehman, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, discusses his role and the difficulties involved, as well as recent protests in the country and the repressive response of the State #country
David Miliband speaks about migration, the climate crisis and the need for passion, as well as reason, in confronting populism #humanrights
Growing tensions between the world's major powers present new dangers to the global order, says leading American diplomat Richard Haass. #intjus
Rapid and far-reaching changes are needed to address the climate crisis and its impact on human rights, warns the UN's Special Rapporteur. #humanrights
There's increasing pressure to clean up the widespread misuse of non-disclosure agreements to cover up sexual crimes and misconduct. #humanrights
Saudi Arabia should be held to account for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi under international law, says UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard. #intjus
President Trump's unique approach to world affairs is causing lasting damage to the global rules-based order, warn John Bellinger and Harold Koh. #country
The ambitious Smart Cities initiative aims to drive urban development and stimulate economic growth across India, using technology and data. #country
President Trump's controversial asylum ban and his relentless push to build a wall at the US-Mexico border, assessed by leading experts. #human rights
The profound challenges posed by the UK's withdrawal from the EU, assessed by Ken Clarke, Vanessa Sciarra, Mary Robinson and Romano Prodi. #country
The wave of popular discontent worldwide presents a serious challenge to democracy, warn Ken Clarke, Romano Prodi and Jennifer Rubin. #intjus
Diversity champions across the legal profession assess cultural and structural changes to drive equality and influence of women lawyers. #human rights
Mary Robinson, James Thornton and John Cruden on the urgent need for governments and business to redouble efforts on global warming. #energy
The debasement of political debate is threatening the rule of law and eroding trust in democracy, warn leading figures from Washington. #country
Funding of election campaigns, the power of social media giants and the risks to democracy, with Trevor Potter, John Holmes and Tony Travers. #intjus
The threats facing Western unity and democracy worldwide are nearing crisis point, says former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague. #intjus
Kofi Annan, Patricia O'Brien, Bernard Kouchner and Jose Manuel Barroso assess the obligations of the international community to intervene. #intjus
Ahead of a proposed summit between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, Robert Gates and Michael Kirby consider the path to resolving the crisis. #country
The dangerous decline in relations between the West and Putin's Russia is assessed by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Robert Gates and Jack Straw. #country
The ICC's President, Chief Prosecutor and Registrar assess the achievements and challenges of the Court fifteen years on from its inception. #intjus
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange defends the Clinton email leaks and discusses corrosive media reporting and the limits of judicial systems. #intjus
Chief Economist at Deloitte China, Sitao Xu, on how China is transforming into a manufacturing and trading powerhouse to rival the United States. #country
President Obama's Trade Representative Michael Froman assesses America’s world trade priorities and the growing influence of China. #country
A US managing partner, the President of the New York City Bar Association and the IBA President on speaking out on the rule of law in the age of Trump. #intjus
An IBA-UN discussion on reaffirming torture as a #humanrights violation, with Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, Helena Kennedy, Juan Méndez and Beatrice Mtetwa.
Michael Kirby on the escalation of tensions over nuclear weapons and holding North Korea to account for grave #humanrights violations.
Lawyers and aid workers on the frontline of Europe's refugee crisis attempt to gain access to those in greatest need of legal advice. #humanrights
White House contact with Justice Dept over ‘Russiagate’ raises concerns over political influence, say ethics lawyers to Bush and Obama. #country
Proposals for huge cuts to US civil legal aid are condemned by Legal Services Corporation chair John Levi and former chair Frank Strickland. #country
Populist politicians in France and the Netherlands are calling for their countries to leave the EU, but there are major barriers to exit. #country
President Trump's controversial use of executive orders goes too far, says former Deputy Assistant US Attorney General, John Yoo. #country
Assessing the Turkish Government’s response to the failed coup of July 2016 and the serious consequences for the rule of law and #humanrights.
Following the UK's Brexit vote and the US Presidential election, Mary Robinson considers populism and the links with climate justice and #humanrights.
The lead prosecutor investigating the biggest corruption scandal in Brazil's history provides an update and calls for criminal justice reforms in the #country.
Jack Straw, Tony Travers and Arlene Foster on the historic vote, the ensuing legal challenge, and key issues such as immigration and security. #country
David Scheffer, Juan Mendez and Cori Crider express their concerns over what a Trump Presidency could mean for #humanrights and the rule of law.
Christine Lagarde, Ben Bernanke and Chris Dodd on the need for ongoing #finance reforms and culture change a decade on from the global crisis.
The trial and conviction of the former Chad dictator, Hissène Habré, for historic crimes is assessed by ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and others. #intjus
Drago Kos, Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery, on the role of governments, companies and the legal profession. #anticorruption
José Manuel Barroso, Nicolas Bratza and José María Aznar consider the European Union's systems and human rights protections. #humanrights
Mark Pieth, Michael Beloff and Richard McLaren on the scandals and governance challenges facing the world’s major sporting bodies. #csr
Legal experts examine protection of human rights, underpinning legal considerations and the coalition's fight against #terrorism and ISIS.
David Anderson QC, the UK's independent reviewer of #terrorism legislation, discusses the developing security situation.
Jim O’Neill and other speakers highlight the legal, business and economic issues in the #country as Rio prepares to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen and other high-profile speakers discuss online security, cyber espionage and the rising threat of cyber-attacks. #csr
Mary Robinson, Al Gore and Mohamed Nasheed on the injustices of climate change, the role of lawyers and the December 2015 Paris talks. #energy
Aung San Suu Kyi and other speakers comment on elections, constitutional reform and accountability vs reconciliation #country
Michael Kirby, Chair, UN Commission of Inquiry, on human rights violations and how the international community should respond. #country
Kofi Annan, Muhammad Yunus, Mary Robinson and Mark Malloch Brown discuss the Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals. #intjus
Jim O’Neill, Chris Saul and James Palmer explore China’s economic slowdown and the possibility of social reform in the country. #finance
Navi Pillay, Bernard Kouchner and Mark Malloch Brown examine UN intervention in Syria and the responsibility to protect. #intjus
Charmian Gooch, the Co-Founder of Global Witness, and José Ugaz, Chair of Transparency International. #anticorruption