Better Place: Talking International Law

Jan 19 2021 5
Better Place: Talking International Law Podcast artwork

Better Place is an interview series with international law practitioners from around Australia and the world. Hosted by Jonathan Kolieb of RMIT University, the interviews seek to demystify what international law is, and what drives people to pursue and sustain careers in international law. International law is ever-increasingly relevant to every facet of life and society in our globalised world. These are the people that help create, support, engage, enforce and work with international law.

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Michael Abramowitz - President, Freedom House - democracy and human rights advocate

Jan 19 2021 52 mins  
In this episode Jonathan speaks with Michael J. Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House - an independent watchdog organisation dedicated to the expansion of freedom in the world. As their website states: 'Freedom House is founded on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people.' Before joining Freedom House i

Paul Williams - Co-Founder of Public International Law and Policy Group and Professor in Law and International Relations, American University-Washington DC

Jan 10 2021 68 mins  
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with the tireless Paul Williams. Paul is a former US State Department officer, Paul co-founded the Public International Law & Policy Group - a non-profit, pro bono global law firm advising everyone from sovereign governments to non-state armed groups. He also finds time to be a professor at American University, Washington DC. Public International La

Sarah Leah Whitson - Executive Director, DAWN - Democracy for the Arab World Now

Jan 05 2021 61 mins  
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Sarah Leah Whitson an American human rights lawyer and advocate with a passion for advancing democracy and human rights in the Middle East. Sarah Leah has worked and volunteered for various civil society organisations, including the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Center for Economic and Social Rights and for Human Rights Watch

Sean Murphy - Special rapporteur on Crimes Against Humanity at United Nations' International Law Commission and Professor at George Washington University Law School

Dec 06 2020 58 mins  
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Sean Murphy - a former president of the American Society of International Law and currently the Special Rapporteur on Crimes Against Humanity for the UN's International Law Commission. In this role he has led efforts to draft articles for a world-first dedicated treaty to prevent and punish crimes against humanity. (https://legal.un.org/ilc/tex

Tilman Ruff AO - Associate Professor at Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne and Co-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War

Nov 29 2020 63 mins  
In this episode Jonathan chats with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tilman Ruff on his lifelong pursuit of a world free of nuclear weapons. Tilman Ruff AO is an infectious diseases and public health physician, with particular focus on the urgent planetary health imperative to eradicate nuclear weapons. His work also addresses the broader public health dimensions of nuclear technology. H

Maha Abdallah - International Advocacy Officer, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

Nov 22 2020 58 mins  
In this episode Jonathan talks with Maha Abdallah about her work in human rights advocacy focused on achieving and protecting Palestinian rights and her work on Business and Human Rights. Maha Abdallah is an international advocacy officer at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. She is formerly a senior legal researcher and advocacy officer at Al-Haq, focusing on business a

Lucy Greenwood - Independent international arbitrator, Greenwood Arbitration

Nov 15 2020 46 mins  
In this episode Jonathan speaks with Lucy Greenwood, an accomplished international commercial arbitrator who also champions more sustainable and green-friendly arbitrations and increasing the number of women in the profession. Lucy Greenwood is an independent international arbitrator specializing in commercial and investment disputes. She has over 20 years of experience in commerci

Jeyashree Nadarajah - Independent Consultant - Protection of Civilians in Conflict and Peacekeeping

Nov 08 2020 57 mins  
In this episode Jonathan talks with Jeyashree Nadarajah. Jeyashree has had an incredible career in the realm of civilian protection in armed conflict that has taken her from her home in Malaysia around the world and back again. Jeyashree has worked for various United Nations agencies and offices - including the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sex

Sarah Holewinski - Newly-appointed Washington Director, Human Rights Watch; long-time champion of civilian protections in war-time

Nov 01 2020 54 mins  
In this episode Jonathan talks with Sarah Holewinski. At the time of the interview Sarah was a 2020 Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, advising the Institute on security sector reform strategy. *** IN BREAKING NEWS - since recording the interview Sarah has been named as the new Washington DC director for Human Rights Watch. Congrats Sarah! *** Sarah pre

Yvette Zegenhagen - Head of International Humanitarian Law, Australian Red Cross

Oct 20 2020 43 mins  
In this inaugural episode, Jonathan sits down with Yvette Zegenhagen, Head of International Humanitarian Law at Australian Red Cross. After a stint in commercial law, Yvette now spearheads a Red Cross team charged with advancing international humanitarian law - the "laws of war" - within Australian society. International Humanitarian Law is a set of international laws that set what