The Human Rights Podcast

• Mental Health and Human Rights w Dr. Charles O’Mahony and Dr. Pat Bracken

  On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM Master's student Jennifer Hough speaks with Dr. Charles O’Mahony, a lecturer at the University of Galway's School of Law, specialising in disability and mental health law and policy, and Dr. Pat Bracken, an independent psychiatrist who argues against the medicalisation of human distress and advocates for strengthening person-centred, community-based solutions. The conversation considers the reform of the Mental Health Act which is currently underway in Ireland and considers how current law fails to align with the the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD ). It also questions the current system of forced psychiatric treatment and considers other ways of assisting people in distress. Notes:  During the course of our conversation, we referenced a number of reports and issues. You can read more about the various topics in links below: * Reform of Mental Health Act, 2001 and issues around alignment with human rights law - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160252724000530?via%3Dihub * The WHO Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches document is part of the WHO Guidance and technical packages on community mental health services set of publications. It provides a detailed description of person-centred and human rights-based approaches in mental health, and summary examples of good practice services around the world. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240025707 * Dr Pat Bracken paper on the power of psychiatry - https://madinireland.com/2025/02/dr-pat-bracken-psychiatric-power-a-personal-view/ * New models of care, Kyrie Farm - https://madinireland.com/2024/12/kyrie-farm-research-distress-was-normalised-and-understood-as-part-of-the-human-condition/ Trieste: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/piis2215-0366(21)00252-2/fulltext * IHREC: Access to Justice: Implementation of Article 13 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - https://www.ihrec.ie/documents/access-to-justice-implementation-of-article-13-of-the-un-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/ The podcast was produced by Jennifer Hough, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).

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• Environmental Crimes and Ecocide Prosecution in Ukraine and Internationally w Maksym Popov & Richard J. Rogers

  In this episode, ICHR LLM student Sonia Artesani speaks with Maksym Popov, Advisor to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, and Richard J. Rogers, a lawyer and expert in international human rights and criminal law, currently addressing businesses' impact on human rights. Together, they discuss the prosecution of environmental crimes and ecocide in Ukraine and at the international level, analyzing the recent proposal to recognize ecocide as the fifth international crime under the Rome Statute. They also examine Ukraine's efforts to seek justice for direct attacks on the environment perpetrated by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territories, including the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. The podcast was produced by Sonia Artesani and Kirsten Larson. Intro music 'Smarties Intro - FMA Podcast Suggestion' by Birds for Scale (Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro music: 'Smarties Outro -FMA Podcast Suggestion' by Birds for Scale (Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 international License).

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• Interview with European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly

  In this episode, Dr. Ciara Smyth interviews European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly. They explore Emily's career and her experiences serving as both the Irish Ombudsman and the European Ombudsman. The podcast was produced by Gráinne McGrath, Ciara Smyth and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).

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• Human Rights and the US Election - Interview w Larry Donnelly

  In this episode, LLM student Laine Stover speaks with political commentator and US attorney Larry Donnelly. The discussion focuses on the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election, with an emphasis on immigration, swing states, and Vice President picks. The podcast was produced by Laine Stover, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).

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• ‘Ireland and the world – appealing to international law in times of conflict’ w/ Prof. Shane Darcy

  In this episode, ICHR PhD researcher Kirsten Larson introduces Professor Shane Darcy’s inaugural lecture, "Ireland and the World – Appealing to International Law in Times of Conflict." Professor Darcy explores the role of international law, with a focus ranging from Ireland to Palestine. The podcast was produced by Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).

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