The No Walls Podcast

The latest conflict has plunged Sudan into "one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history", according to the UN who also warn it may trigger the world's largest hunger crisis. UNICEF says some communities in Sudan have been pushed to the brink of famine. We speak to Mark Townsend, a senior global development reporter at the Guardian who has recently visited neighbouring Chad, home to Sudanese refugees. He talks about evidence of ethnic cleansing, in "Darfur's unfolding dystopian nightmare". We also speak to the Co-Directors at Waging Peace, an NGO based in the UK dedicated to building better lives for Sudanese refugees.

This episode shines a light on a formidable human rights defender, Helen Duffy, a Scottish international lawyer and academic. She is a Professor of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the University of Leiden and runs her own international law practice ‘Human Rights in Practice (HRiP)' specialising in strategic litigation – with cases from Guantanamo Bay to Palestinian land rights. A particularly inspiring listen to mark International Women’s Day 2024. Enjoy.

As the UK's House of Lords currently debates the 'Safety of Rwanda Bill', this episode returns to Rwanda. We hear from Michela Wrong, an award-winning journalist and author who has spent over two decades writing about Africa. She has written for Reuters, the BBC and the Financial Times, amongst others. She has also written several books, including ‘Do Not Disturb’ - a scathing assessment of Rwanda under President Kagame which brought our attention to her. We hope you enjoy. Link to the transcript of Baroness Hale’s comments in the House of Lords as mentioned in the introduction: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-02-19/debates/69F06855-C925-4753-9277-D92C1BEB6CD0/SafetyOfRwanda(AsylumAndImmigration)Bill

This episode dives into International Criminal Law, including the avenues for international criminal accountability and the role and power of the International Criminal Court. We hear a fascinating interview with Toby Cadman, barrister and co-founder of The Guernica 37 Group and Joint Head of Guernica 37 Chambers, and an experienced international criminal and humanitarian law specialist. However, first our co-hosts speak more on the government's proposed plans for Rwanda following the Supreme Court's Judgment. Note: our interview with Toby Cadman was recorded on 23 November 2023 and therefore some facts and statistics may be slightly out-of-date.

This episode dives into International Humanitarian Law, specifically in the context of what is happening right now in Gaza especially as Israel resumes its offensive. We hope to provide you with a clear overview of the international legal position through insights from two highly-informed guests: Clive Baldwin, Senior Legal Advisor at Human Rights Watch, and Professor Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute.

We are back for Season 3! On Wednesday 15 November, the UK Supreme Court unanimously held the Secretary of State's Rwanda policy to be unlawful. Tune in to hear our co-hosts plus solicitor Sophie Lucas debrief on the judgment, discuss the process running up to it and what it was like to be in the Courtroom when Lord Reed read out those words.

Music plays a central role in the lives of so many, not least those who want to express their views of protest and resistance through the medium of art. The No Walls Podcast is back, this time with two extremely gifted guests: Nick Armstrong KC of Matrix Chambers - one of the country’s leading barristers, and Bumi Thomas - an inspirational musician with lived experience of standing up to the Home Office. Bumi was kind enough to let us feature one of her original songs at the end of the episode, and both have been kind enough to provide us with playlists of the songs that they refer to. Follow the link below to listen to their selections! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NHe2RxowpUrgGCL13QvhZ?si=EC9u5TE1Qz6rx6Ub6GYM6g

With 21 episodes and an increasing audience, The No Walls Podcast is continuing to grow! If you're interested in listening, we've put together a short trailer so you can hear some of the conversations we've had over the past 16 months and the kind of content you can expect going forward! The trailer includes the following clips: 1. Toufique Hossain, one of our co-hosts, talking about his most moving moment over his extensive career (S01E02). 2. Dr Emilie McDonnel, Advocacy Coordinator at Human Rights Watch, talking about the UK's Rwanda policy (S01E07). 3. Alphonsine Kabagabo, the director of the NGO Women for Refugee Women and survivor of sexual violence & the Rwandan genocide, talking about the impact of gender-based violence and Home Office shortcomings (S01E10). 4. Michael Etienne, barrister at Garden Court Chambers, talking about the role of racial prejudice and bias in the legal profession (S01E09). 5. Bella Sankey, director at the time of the NGO Detention Action, talking about myths in the sphere of immigration and asylum (S01E03).

It's been an interesting few months! This episode attempts to summarise the latest issues that are keeping those working in the immigration and asylum fields very busy...and worried. Toufique and Sheroy talk Rwanda, Rule 39 interim measures, ECHR, asylum accommodation on barges and the dreaded Illegal Migration Bill. Tune in!!

Spanish Version of S02 Special - Part 2 En este episodio, entrevistamos a Adil Jose Meléndez Marquez, un extraordinario abogado colombiano de derechos humanos. Es uno de los pocos abogados que trabaja en casos de restitución de tierras y enjuiciamiento de (para)militares en la región norte de Bolívar. Representa principalmente a personas desplazadas e indígenas. Adil Meléndez sobrevivió a tres intentos de asesinato por parte de cicarios (asesinos). A pesar de las amenazas, está decidido a continuar con su trabajo para evitar que ciertos grupos de ciudadanos no tengan acceso a la justicia. ¡Es una escucha inspiradora! Un agradecimiento especial a Carme Clavel Arcas, Coordinadora de la Caravana Colombiana, por facilitar y traducir.

We now bring you Part 3 of our mini-series within Season 2, where each episode will focus on a different human rights defender in a different country across the world. We hope it inspires you and provides hope to all who stand up for people's rights...you are not alone! This episode interviews Milica Svabic, a Serbian human rights lawyer who works for the NGO KlikAktiv, the Center for Development of Social Policies in Belgrade, Serbia. She discusses the political and media landscape in Serbia towards migrants, her critical work providing legal advice to asylum-seekers in Serbia and the dire situation for those living in settlement camps on the border with Hungary. A fascinating listen.

We cannot wait for you all to listen to Part 2 of our mini-series within Season 2, where each episode will focus on a different human rights defender in a different country across the world. We hope it inspires you and provides hope to all who stand up for people's rights...you are not alone! This episode interviews Adil Jose Meléndez Marquez, an extraordinary Colombian human rights lawyer. He is one of the few lawyers working on land restitution cases, and the prosecution of the (para)military in the northern Bolivar region. He mainly represents displaced and indigenous peoples. Adil Meléndez survived three attempted assassination attempts by cicario’s (assassins). Despite the threats, he is determined to continue his work to prevent certain groups of citizens from having no access to justice at all. It is an inspiring listen! A special thanks to Carme Clavel Arcas, the Co-ordinator at the Colombian Caravana, for facilitating and translating!

This our second International Women’s Day episode with two new faces. Sophie Lucas, a solicitor in the public law team interviews the formidable Phillippa Kaufmann KC, a leading silk at the top of her field. In this candid conversation we discuss Phillippa’s career, the challenges surrounding gender equality in the judiciary and why police are failing to protect women’s rights. Phillippa has fascinating insights from her career at the bar and inspiring words of advice for women in law.

Happy International Women’s Day! In celebration, we’re releasing two episodes this week each one interviewing an incredibly inspiring woman working in this field. First up is Cristel Amiss, Joint Coordinator at Women Against Rape. Cristel has had a remarkable three-decade career, where she has consistently and fearlessly advocated for marginalised women and survivors of gender-based violence seeking asylum and in detention. This is a fascinating interview, filled to the brim with her unrivalled passion, activism and advice for how we can mobilise and fight against this together. A must listen. If you want to get involved in Women Against Rape’s work or read more about them: https://womenagainstrape.net/what-you-can-do/

We’re very excited to release Part 1 of a mini-series within Season 2, where each episode will focus on a different human rights defender in a different country across the world. We hope it inspires you and provides hope to all who stand up for people's rights...you are not alone! This episode interviews Cecillia Wang, the deputy legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union, director of the Center for Democracy, civil rights & criminal defense lawyer with two decades of experience and lecturer at Stanford and University of California at Berkeley. This episode is not one to miss.

We're back!! We resume series 2 with a recap of our team's work in 2022 and a specific focus on three chosen cases. We speak to the brilliant Ahmed Aydeed about a landmark case on trafficking; the formidable Hannah Baynes (Baynesy) about her work on Resettlement cases and finally, our very own Sheroy Zaq reminds us of the Home Office’s lawlessness in running Manston House- a short term holding facility, detaining asylum seekers.

This episode of the No Walls Podcast, hosted by Toufique and Sheroy, is an episode dedicated to journalism in the immigration and asylum sphere. Not enough journalists dedicate careers in raising awareness as to the policies of the Home Office, as well as the impact that these policies have upon those in need of protection. We speak to two! We have very special guests for our listeners this week: Nicola Kelly (Freelance Journalist, who frequently writes for The Guardian, The Observer and The Independent) and May Bulman (Investigations Editer at Lighthouse Reports, previously Social Affairs Correspondent at The Independent), both of whom continue to play an invaluable role in ensuring that the government is held to account and the truth is told. Another one not to be missed!

The No Walls Podcast is back again, with the insight of three leading barristers: Alex Goodman (Landmark Chambers), Chris Buttler KC (Matrix Chambers) and Camila Zapata Besso (Doughty Street Chambers). Each of our guests delve into a particular judgment that resonates. We hear about how the cases shaped the law, their personal experiences of litigation and why those judgments matter in the current legal landscape. Get your tofu at the ready and tune in!

The No Walls Podcast is back for another season, and what better place to start than the tenure of our previous Home Secretary? Our hosts Toufique Hossain and Sheroy Zaq discuss how they will remember Priti Patel, delving into a handful of legal challenges that the Duncan Lewis Public Law Team pursued throughout her time in office. This episode also attempts to envisage what might be awaiting us in the coming months and years following Suella Braverman’s latest comments at the Conservative Party Conference.

This episode brings our first season to a close. The direct and relentless attacks that this sphere has had to face since we started this Podcast have been frightening, and it has been an honour for us to try and spark some useful discourse around all of those topics. We will be back after the summer with our second season, but for now, our three hosts look back at some of their favourite moments from S01, and as a thank you to all of our loyal listeners, we end with some of our embarrassing outtakes!