In this episode of #OpenTalk, journalist Carlos Conde interviews Ken Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and author of the new book "Righting Wrongs." They dive into the urgent state of human rights advocacy, the challenges facing the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the global fight for accountability.

Ken Roth stresses the importance of the Assembly of States Parties in resolving the leadership crisis surrounding ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who is currently on leave after facing allegations. Roth explains why the ICC cannot afford to be “headless” at a time when it must tackle pressing cases around the world.

The discussion also examines the case of Rodrigo Duterte, the former Philippine president now detained in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity. Roth argues that Duterte’s arrest and potential trial should serve as a stark warning to autocrats everywhere who believe they can escape justice.

If you’re interested in international justice, human rights, accountability for authoritarian leaders, and the role of the ICC, this conversation is essential viewing.

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SECTIONS

00:00 Why Ken Roth wrote "Righting Wrongs"

– Ken’s book is part memoir but it really is a strategy lesson for how information can be deployed to force government to respect human rights

– Human rights work doesn’t always work but it works a lot

– Does naming and shaming still work?

– Human rights as an imposition by the west– it’s a convenient argument for an autocrat

– Sacrifice civil liberties for better governance is part of the Lee Kuan Yew myth

– 9 out of 10, autocrats serve themselves; Lee was the exception that proves the rule

12:04 The ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan controversy and why it needs to be resolved FAST

– The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor is essentially headless at a time when important decisions have to be made

– Assembly of States Parties has the power to remove Khan if they want but there needs to be a fair process

– The next prosecutor should be genuinely independent

– Befuddled why Putin has not been charged for any of bombing

20:19 Duterte’s arrest and trial at The Hague

-- Duterte is a lesson to the world's autocrats

– The argument that ICC only focuses on cases in sub-Saharan Africa is old

– One fair criticism against the ICC is that it has only convicted warlords so far, not leaders or government officials

– Duterte arrest shows the naïveté of leaders that they can get away with mass atrocities as long as they are in office

– Duterte is an important lesson for the Putins and Netanyahus of the world

– Duterte case is not only a positive for the ICC but also a positive for justice

– The Philippines should rejoin the ICC

Learn more about Ken Roth and his book here: https://www.kenroth.org/

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