Our Rights in Action

In Our Rights in Action, Leïla Choukroune, Professor of International Law and Director of The University of Portsmouth’s Democratic Citizenship theme, explores human rights in today's institutions.

Across the series Leïla talks with experts and activists who are working across the world to challenge inequalities in human rights and international law, and who are working to improve the lives of people around the world.

International Law might seem obscure and technical to those outside the field!

To people disenfranchised by circumstances or inequalities, the law can appear to be something distant and oppressive, and as something that does not represent them or their experiences. In that sense “law” can be disempowering to the people it is there to serve and protect. But it's not. Law is really about how our rights as individuals are formulated, protected, enforced or questioned. As individuals, we all have human rights. They are the most fundamental and universal of all rights. Our rights to live in dignity and safety as people, free from slavery, torture and discrimination, our rights to move freely, to choose our nations, to have ideas, property and families, our rights to employment, rest and good health, to education, culture and so much more.

Many of us are fortunate to take these rights for granted without ever thinking it is the law that enforces them. Yet as you look around the world, there are many more who are failed – by systems, governments or societies.

And that’s why empowering those people with the law is so vital in solving many of the world’s problems today and in the future. But empowering everyone with knowledge of the law doesn’t come from textbook definitions or Latin quotes. It comes from the everyday interrogations and conversations by people with a compassion for human lives and drive to make things better.  The very heart of human rights law lies in asking questions and seeking newer, better answers that make a real difference.

In this series Leïla will be sharing insights from the brilliant individuals she meets in her work at the University of Portsmouth. In every episode we’ll look at a particular case study and have a frank conversation about the challenges to be overcome and how we can enact this using legal systems.

From the complexities of international trade, to the rights of women and children here in the UK and further afield, each episode will shed light on human stories and how the law is working to improve lives.

Cover Artwork features Street Art, Unknown Artist: Pondicherry, India

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