The No Walls Podcast

Lately, we've focused a lot on international law but in this episode, we bring it back to domestic affairs. Sheroy and Toufique discuss the Home Secretary's various announcements and we speak to our good friend and leading public law solicitor, Jeremy Bloom, on two test cases listed to be heard soon - one on the refugee family reunion "suspension" and the second on "Good Character" guidance changes for refugees.

The No Walls Podcast is back! We interview Marko Milanović. Marko is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Reading School of Law and Director of the Global Law at Reading (GLAR) research group, as well asthe Raoul Wallenberg Visiting Chair of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, University of Lund. He talks to us about the recent use of force by US-Israel, the UK’s current position – all in the context of international humanitarian law.

Sophie and Toufique also discuss their experience of Iranianasylum claims and the UK Government's approach to them. Join us!

The Home Secretary recently accused asylum seekers of making “vexatious, last-minute trafficking claims” to avoid removal from the UK, as the Home Office said it would review modern slavery laws. The government’s rhetoric and actions targeting migrants continue to take an extreme turn. We speak to Kate Garbers, a founder and director of Unseen, a charity that provides safety, hope and choice to survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery. She has several years working in the anti-slavery sector, directly with survivors, law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organisations and governments on how to effectively tackle the issue of trafficking and modern slavery. She is also a Senior Research Fellow in Policy Evidence and Survivor Support, with the Rights Lab, at the University of Nottingham. Kate speaks about Modern Slavery, what it means, what the reality is and why the Home Secretary has simply got it wrong when it comes to trafficking survivors.

In this episode, Toufique speaks with Mira Hammad, a formidable criminal barrister at Garden Court North. Mira speaks about erosion of protest rights in the UK and the stifling of peaceful dissent. She also sheds light on the recent proscription of Palestine Action, its potentially chilling effect on free speech and the ongoing legal challenge.

In this episode, Sophie interviews Lorraine Leete,  lawyer andcoordinator at the Legal Centre Lesvos. Lorraine has extraordinary front-line experience working with migrants and refugees on the island. She gives our listeners an insight into camp conditions, the Hellenic coastguard’s pushbacks operations, and the criminalisation of migrants and human rights defenders. This is a must-listen for those with an interest in migration flows and understanding the human cost of Europe’s militarised borders

It’s Refugee Week and we’re releasing three episodes focusing on the experiences of refugees across the globe. In this episode we hear from Prashant Busan, one of India’s most highly regarded Supreme Court advocates who works on landmark cases, including on behalf of Rohingya refugees in India. In this powerful interview, Prashant outlines the atrocities being faced by Rohingya refugees and and their struggle to have their fundamental rights recognised andupheld.

Goodbye Anna!

It's an emotional time for the No Walls Team as we have to say goodbye to Anna as a co-host. This episode goes down memory lane, as Anna, Sheroy and Toufique look back on their favourite episodes. We'll miss you Anna!

We’re back!!

Trump’s executive actions have been described by Amnesty International as “harmful, racist - an anti-immigrant agenda”. We see here in the UK, our own Prime Minister’s rhetoric is becoming more and more extreme. This episode delves into Trump’s recent decisions and we hear from the incredible Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of the Justice Action Centre and a nationally recognised attorney in the US focusing on immigrants’ rights.

Also more personally, Sophie Lucas joins the NWP team as a new host!! She is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers with considerable experience in complex human rights challenges against public bodies, having previously worked as a solicitor. Sophie was named ‘Times Lawyer of the Week’ following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the Rwanda policy was unlawful.

We’re back!

Amid a world of increasing conflict and suffering, this episode shines a light on international justice and the ongoing efforts to seek accountability for human rights violations. We cover the ICC arrest warrants in relation to Palestine, and the recent developments in Syria.

We speak to two brilliant guests: Yasmine Ahmed, the UK Director of Human Rights Watch with two decades of experience in international law and human rights advocacy, and Isabella Kirwan, ex-Duncan Lewis turned international law barrister at Guernica 37 chambers who represents in cases before international criminal tribunals in The Hague.

Enjoy!

In this episode we hear two brilliant interviews on climate justice and migration. 

First from the heavyweight barrister Jessica Simor KC, covering her remarkable career and role in the landmark ECtHR case of Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland. 

Then from Yumna Kamel, Legal Education Officer at Right to Remain and the co-founder and executive director of Earth Refuge, the planet's first legal think tank dedicated to climate migrants.  

Enjoy. 

Resources referenced by Yumna for further reading:

ICAAD report on the Right to Life with Dignity for Climate Displaced Persons: https://icaad.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ICAAD-RTLWD-Policy-Brief.pdf 

Kerilyn Schewel's in/voluntary im/mobility work: https://mixedmigration.org/staying-put-why-its-time-to-pay-more-attention-to-mixed-immobility/

UNHCR statement on 'Legal considerations regarding claims for international protection made in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and disasters’: https://www.refworld.org/policy/legalguidance/unhcr/2020/en/123356 

Annalisa Savaresi and Joana Setzer from LSE’s Grantham Institute have identified more than 100 climate cases that rely on human rights arguments to promote action on climate change: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/a-first-global-mapping-of-rights-based-climate-litigation-reveals-a-need-to-explore-just-transition-cases-in-more-depth/

Earth Refuge website: https://earthrefuge.org/

Socials: @earthrefuge