Episodes

  • US Immigration Policies Make Life Impossible for Migrants - Vicki Gaubeca

    US Immigration Policies Make Life Impossible for Migrants - Vicki Gaubeca
    Oct 11 2023

    This week, Rai was joined by Vicki Gaubeca. Vicki is the Associate Director, US Immigration and Border Policy at Human Rights Watch. The two discuss the history of US Immigration policies, the current political realm centred around the US-Mexican border, US detention centres and its role at the border, the migrant crisis, and so much more.


    As a result of climate change and increased armed conflict globally, the US-Mexico border has seen a surge of refugees from countries outside of the Americas, such as Cameroon and Syria, seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border.

    Compounded by stringent immigration policies, and the militarization of the US-Mexico border, the number of deaths and bodies discovered in the Mexican border lands reached a record 850 in 2023.


    Listen to this episode to learn more about the crisis, and how you can #HelpFromHome


    If you want to keep up with Vicki Gaubeca:

    LinkedIn: Vicki Gaubeca

    Twitter: @vgaubeca


    Global Rights Defenders is a non-profit dedicated to advocating alongside marginalized, displaced and vulnerable populations. Through podcast interviews, youtube videos, and articles GRD aims to shed light on human rights issues worldwide.


    Follow us:

    Website - www.GlobalRightsDefenders.org

    Email: Info@globalrightsdefenders.org

    LinkedIn: Global Rights Defenders

    Twitter: @GRD_Now
    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • 'Neutrality Doesn't Mean Being Silent About Crimes' - Nedal Izdden, Co-Founder of the White Helmets

    'Neutrality Doesn't Mean Being Silent About Crimes' - Nedal Izdden, Co-Founder of the White Helmets
    Sep 12 2023

    This week, Rai was joined by Nedal Izdden. Nedal is the co-founder of the Syria Civil Defense, otherwise known as the White Helmets. The White Helmets is a volunteer organization that operates in parts of opposition-controlled Syria and Turkey, and is the now the largest civil society organization in the Middle East. The White Helmets undertake tasks related to medical evacuation, urban search and rescue, and providing essential services, and have saved over 125,000 lives.

    Nedal is the recipient of several humanitarian awards including the Tippery International Peace Award.


    Nedal and Rai discuss the formation of the White Helmets, his reflections of the ongoing affairs in Syria, and Nedal shares his experiences as a newcomer in Canada. Today, Nedal has continued his advocacy efforts as a research assistant at the University of Victoria, focusing on men's mental health and labour employment for newcomers to Canada.


    Nedal's story is remarkable, and we were honoured to have hosted a true hero and advocate.


    If you want to keep up with Nedal:

    LinkedIn: Nedal Izdden

    Twitter: @NIzdden

    Email: Nedalizdden@gmail.com
    Show more Show less
    39 mins
  • The Double Standard in Refugee Humane Reception

    The Double Standard in Refugee Humane Reception
    Jul 25 2023

    In this week's episode, Rai Friedman is joined by Eric Reidy. Eric is the Migration & Special Coverage Editor for The New Humanitarian. He has reported extensively on migration in the Mediterranean as well as on humanitarian aid work and anti-migrant vigilante groups at the US-Mexico border and the effort to document crimes and atrocities in Syria’s civil war.


    The two discussed European migration policies, the dangers of crossing the Mediterranean Sea en route to safety, the double standard for refugee humane reception, and the future of refugee policy worldwide.



    If you want to keep up with Eric Reidy:

    Linkedin: Eric Reidy

    Twitter: @Eric_Reidy

    Email: eric@thenewhumanitarian.com


    Global Rights Defenders is a non-profit organization that advocates for refugee and human rights worldwide. Through podcast interviews, youtube videos, articles, and international projects, GRD aims to shed light on human rights issues.


    Follow us

    Website - www.globalrightsdefenders.org

    Email - info@globalrightsdefenders.org

    Twitter - @GRD_Now

    LinkedIn - Global Rights Defenders

    Instagram - Global Rights Defenders

    Facebook - Global Rights Defenders
    Show more Show less
    50 mins
  • The True Cost of Qatar's FIFA World Cup

    The True Cost of Qatar's FIFA World Cup
    Nov 15 2022

    In this week's episode, Rai is joined by Michael Page. Page is the Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division (MENA) at Human Rights Watch. The two discuss migrant workers rights in relation to international labour, and especially as it relates to the FIFA World Cup. When Qatar won the FIFA World Cup bid in 2010, they immediately began recruiting labourers to build all the necessary infrastructure. This has meant roads, stadiums, hotels - and anything you can think of that would host millions of people over the course of a month.

    Thousands of people have fled to Qatar from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and other Southeast Asian and African countries looking for employment opportunities to feed their families. Unfortunately, their rights have not been protected and many have been injured, if not killed, in the process. Find out more from Michael Page about how Qatar's FIFA representatives exploited these vulnerable populations, and how you can help from home.


    Check out Pay Up FIFA - https://www.hrw.org/PayUpFIFA


    If you want to keep up with Michael Page:

    Human Rights Watch - https://www.hrw.org/about/people/michael-page

    Twitter - @MichaelARPage




    Global Rights Defenders is a non-profit dedicated to advocating alongside marginalized, displaced, and vulnerable populations. Through podcast interviews, youtube videos, and articles, GRD aims to shed light on human rights issues worldwide.

    Follow us: Website - globalrightsdefenders.com

    Email: info@globalrightsdefenders.com

    LinkedIn: Global Rights Defenders

    Twitter: @GRD_Now

    Facebook: Global Rights Defenders

    Instagram: Global Rights Defenders
    Show more Show less
    42 mins
  • How Can Latin America Receive the Attention it Deserves? - Tamara Taraciuk Broner

    How Can Latin America Receive the Attention it Deserves? - Tamara Taraciuk Broner
    Nov 7 2022

    In this week's episode, Rai Jordan is joined by Tamara Taraciuk Broner. Taraciuk is the Deputy Director for the Americas Division with Human Rights Watch. The two discuss the humanitarian issues in Latin America, the Migration Crisis in the region, the harmful policies designed to keep refugees and migrants out of receiving countries, difficulties accessing basic services like healthcare, and so much more.

    Taraciuk also shed light on the different ways violence been detrimental in the region, negative affects of the pandemic within the political structure in Latin America, and successful advocacy efforts which need continued support.

    Finally, Taraciuk reminded listeners how they can help from home, and to not forget about Latin America when they are advocating for human rights issues.

    If you want to keep up with Tamara Taraciuk Broner:

    Articles - https://www.hrw.org/about/people/tamara-taraciuk-broner

    Twitter: @TamaraTaraciuk

    Instagram: tamarataraciuk

    Americas Deputy Director @hrw

    Subdirectora para las Américas de

    @hrw_espanol

    Vice directora para as Américas da

    @hrw_brasil





    Global Rights Defenders is a non-profit dedicated to advocating alongside marginalized, displaced, and vulnerable populations. Through podcast interviews, youtube videos, and articles, GRD aims to shed light on human rights issues worldwide.

    Follow us: Website - globalrightsdefenders.com

    Email: info@globalrightsdefenders.com

    LinkedIn: Global Rights Defenders

    Twitter: @GRD_Now

    Facebook: Global Rights Defenders

    Instagram: Global Rights Defenders
    Show more Show less
    40 mins
  • "What Will My Story Inspire You To Do?" - Refugee Advocate Nhial Deng

    "What Will My Story Inspire You To Do?" - Refugee Advocate Nhial Deng
    Oct 14 2022

    This week’s episode, Rai Jordan is joined by Nhial Deng. Nhial is a South Sudanese refugee, writer, community activist, founder, humanitarian consultant and so much more. He has held positions with Global Affairs Canada, the University of Oxford, the United Nations, and the list goes on. Today he tells us his unique story of living in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya for 11 years, describes what advocacy means to him, discusses the initiatives he has founded and supports, as well as encourage others to do more.

    In light of the Afghanistan and Ukrainian crisis, over 100 million people are currently displaced. Nhial uses an interpersonal lens and reminds us all that every displaced person is an individual with aspirations and dreams of their own. Nhial encourages us all to talk with refugees, listen to their stories, and rather than speak for them, provide them a platform so they can share their stories.

    If you want to keep up with Nhial, follow him at:

    LinkedIn - Nhial Deng

    Twitter - @Nhialdeng

    Author on Aljazeera - https://www.aljazeera.com/author/nhial-deng

    Founder of Refugee Peace Ambassadors




    Global Rights Defenders is a non-profit dedicated to advocating alongside marginalized, displaced, and vulnerable populations. Through podcast interviews, youtube videos, and articles, GRD aims to shed light on human rights issues worldwide. 

    Follow us: Website - globalrightsdefenders.com

    Email: info@globalrightsdefenders.com

    LinkedIn: Global Rights Defenders

    Twitter: @GRD_Now

    Facebook: Global Rights Defenders

    Instagram: Global Rights Defenders 
    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • Deep Dive: Europe's War on Refugees

    Deep Dive: Europe's War on Refugees
    Sep 19 2022

    In this week's episode, Rai Jordan does a deep dive into the Migration Crisis in Europe. The Migration crisis of 2015 sparked a heated conversation within Europe, which led to sequential laws and policies that prohibit migration. From preventative measures such as stricter immigration pathways, to external border measures such as the creation of Frontex, Europe is increasingly acting outside of international humanitarian laws. 

    Who's responsibility is it to assist refugees? How do we define a refugee? Do all people looking for protection or help receive it?

    This week's episode discusses all that and more. As well as proactive ways to hold international organizations accountable.
    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • 'Where is UNHCR?'- Pleads Libya Human Trafficking Victims

    'Where is UNHCR?'- Pleads Libya Human Trafficking Victims
    Jul 27 2022
    Human trafficking networks are a well known profiteer for Libyan officials. Before the NATO backed military intervention occurred in Libya in 2011, then leader Mu'ammar Gaddafi would boast about the success human traffickers had in bringing African asylum-seekers to European countries. Today, these human trafficking networks exist in abundance. Government officials, individual traffickers, and arguably the Libyan economy have financially benefited from smuggling. The global migration crisis has left millions fleeing their home countries in search of a better life. Unfortunately, they have been subject to abuse and oftentimes left to rot in detention centers along the smuggling routes, in Libya, or in underground economies. European countries, especially those on the frontier of shared Mediterranean Sea channels with Libya, have financed and implemented preventative tactics which abandon, trap, or forget transient populations. This then begs the question "Are European countries defying the law of non-refoulement?" In this week's episode, Rai is joined by a team from Critica Research and Analysis. She is joined by Founder Dr. Nadia Al-Dayel, Executive Director Dr. Aaron Anfinson, and Research Practitioner Graeme Anfinson. The four discuss human trafficking networks in Libya, who and why people are leaving their home countries, the details of the journey these victims endure, the dangers of the route itself, and the lack of aid from the international community. Lastly, the team discuss different ways listeners can help from home. Disclaimer: The views expressed by the participants are not policy views (official or unofficial) from any federal agency or the United States government. Critica Research and Analysis Critica is non-partisan research center with multidisciplinary expertise drawn from international institutions and contexts. It provides insight on issues of conflict, security, and human rights. Their analysis meets the highest standard of scholarship. Their research is published in peer reviewed journals aimed at policy makers and academia. If you want to keep up with our speakers: Critica Research and Analysis - https://www.criticaresearch.com/ Dr. Nadia Al-Dayel | @N_Al_Dayel Dr. Aaron Anfinson | @AaronAnf Graeme Anfinson | @AnfinsonGraeme Resources used or referenced in this episode: Al-Dayel, N, Anfinson A, & Anfinson G (2021) Captivity, Migration, and Power in Libya. Critica Research - https://www.criticaresearch.com/captivity-migration-libya International Organization for Migration - https://www.iom.int/ United Nations - Smuggling of Migrants - https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/glosom.html
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 19 mins