Human Rights Tracks

In this episode, we speak with Dr Eline Wærp about the increasing digitalisation of EU borders. How is digital technology reshaping migration governance? What are the implications for human rights, and how does this relate to what scholars describe as the “securitisation of mobility”? Dr Wærp guides us through these complex issues, exploring the intersection of technology, politics, and border governance and introducing the concept of “banal securitisation”.

Dr Wærp is a postdoctoral researcher at the FAU Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nuremberg (CHREN), focusing on the digitalisation of EU air border controls and its human rights implications. She has a PhD in migration studies from the Department of Global Political Studies at Malmö University, where she wrote her dissertation on the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) production of a securitised border knowledge. Her research interests include irregularized migration, securitisation, and EU border controls. Through her research, she strives to have a positive societal impact by challenging dominating discourses and practices and questioning the taken-for-granted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4ZcImVVsa0

https://migrationnetwork.un.org/hub/migration-digitalization

https://books.google.de/books/about/Eichmann_in_Jerusalem.html?id=jsDtAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y

https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/pressemitteilungen/EN/2024/09/binnengrenzkontrollen_en.html

https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/pressemitteilungen/EN/2024/09/binnengrenzkontrollen_en.html

https://english.marechaussee.nl/topics/t/temporary-reintroduction-of-border-control

https://www.bmi.bund.de/EN/topics/migration/common-european-asylum-system/common-european-asylum-system-node.html

https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/story-von-der-leyen-commission/managing-migration-responsibly_en

https://www.eid.hr/en/mobile-identitity/dtc/about-project

https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/proposal-regulation-establishing-application-electronic-submission-data-eu-digital-travel_en

https://faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~beki/cs4001/Winner.pdf

In this episode, we talk to Dr Gurgen Petrossian about the dramatic rise in the number of armed conflicts around the world and how international law responds to it. Are we witnessing a "lost era" in international criminal law? Or are these simply persistent challenges international criminal law has always faced? Through an insightful analysis of cases from around the globe, Dr Petrossian walks us through the challenges and possibilities of international justice and its central role in promoting fundamental rights.

Dr Gurgen Petrossian is a Senior Officer for International Criminal Law at the International Nuremberg Principles Academy. He also holds teaching positions at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, and the Yerevan State University. His work focuses on international criminal law, international criminal proceedings, and human rights law.

Sources:

https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2025-06-25/secretary-generals-remarks-the-general-assembly-the-20th-anniversary-of-the-responsibility-protect-bilingual-delivered-scroll-down-for-all-english-and-all-french

https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/31b69202-0728-4852-94e9-a08bdf662fe9/Rustad%20-%20Conflict%20Trends%201946-2024%20-%20PRIO%20Paper.pdf?inline=true

https://www.icrc.org/en/article/icrc-2024-upholding-humanity-conflicthttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/23/human-rights-threat-trumpism-white-house

https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rightshttps://www.icj-cij.org/case/192https://www.icc-cpi.int/situations-under-investigations

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/imposing-sanctions-on-the-international-criminal-court/https://www.prio.org/news/3616

In this episode, we investigate the possibilities and challenges of building human rights capacity and conducting risk assessments within companies. Our guest is Leonel Lisboa, consultant, Head of the Löning Academy, and PhD researcher in International Law at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Together, we explore when human rights capacity-building in corporations becomes meaningful — and when it risks being merely formal, empty, or even alienating. Leonel Lisboa's work focuses on human rights training, impact assessment, and risk management in corporations and in multinational contexts. He also hosts a podcast on international law, which is available here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ULp4JhjnbzUhiN4aGb43I

Sources:

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Publications/HR.PUB.12.2_En.pdf

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000383329https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/2023-03-29-1

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdfhttps://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/2023-03-29-1

https://fsi-ebcao.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1411/files/media/freire.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/14/london-judge-rules-bhp-group-liable-for-brazil-2015-samarco-dam-collapse

https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/53/24

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

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

In this episode, CHREN postdoctoral researcher Dr Caroline Lichuma guides us through the potential effects - and fall-out - of the "EU Omnibus Simplification Initiative" recently proposed by the European Commission. While the names of the EU directives concerned might sound deterring, do not fear: Carol manages to explain the what’s what in a very comprehensible, even entertaining manner. This way, we get to learn a lot about the progress and regress in the EU's struggle for better corporate sustainability.

Carol's research critically analyses regulatory developments in Business and Human Rights, with a particular focus on how mandatory human rights due diligence laws such as the German Lieferkettengesetz (LkSG) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) impact Global South stakeholders.

Sources:

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_25_629

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_614

https://www.institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/PDF/Sonstiges/Letter_of_European_NHRIs_on_the_omnibus_proposal.pdf

ennhri-statement-on-the-omnibus-proposal-i.pdf

https://www.ethicaltrade.org/insights/blog/eti-responds-to-eu-commissions-omnibus-proposal

In this episode, we are diving a little into legal theory while also discussing the very real, very visible implications and effects of poverty. CHREN postdoctoral researcher Dr Tainá Garcia Maia is sharing insights from her interdisciplinary work at the intersection of (in)equality and poverty with a focus on the practice of Latin American apex courts. Tainá's research interests, furthermore, include democracy and autocratisation, inequality and social stratification, and human rights and technology. 

Tainá's book "Inequality and Poverty in Brazil: A Judicial Response to a Socio-Political Challenge" is going to be coming out this year. Stay tuned!

Sources:

https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1176/index.do

https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/732765/files/A_HRC_21_39-EN.pdf?ln=en

https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/659980/files/E_C.12_GC_20-EN.pdf?ln=en

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/10/ban-povertyism-same-way-racism-and-sexism-un-expert

Fact Sheet: An Adjustment to Global Poverty Lines

Poverty - Our World in Data

Population below the international poverty line

Understanding global poverty: What does being poor mean?

Multidimensional Poverty Measure

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

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

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/