The Justice Edit

Former President of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and member of The Elders, Mary Robinson reflects on the growing threats to international law, democracy and human rights, and why defending the rule of law has become more urgent than ever. Speaking at Irish Rule of Law International's public event, What's Law Got to Do With It?, held in Dublin on 22 October 2026, Mary examines the erosion of the international legal order, the rise of populism, and the growing willingness of political leaders to challenge or disregard the institutions and legal safeguards designed to constrain power. “International law is one of the world's most important public goods and moral compasses.” Drawing on decades of experience in international diplomacy and human rights advocacy, Mary considers the consequences of weakening international institutions, the challenges of ensuring accountability for violations of international law, and the importance of defending a rules-based international order at a time of deepening geopolitical divisions. She also reflects on the growing influence of populism, fuelled by economic insecurity, disinformation, and declining public trust in political institutions. “We live in an age where populism is in the ascendancy, driven by a combination of economic insecurity, falling trust in politics and institutions, a wave of disinformation and hate speech on social media, and a pervasive feeling that leaders don't listen to ordinary citizens.” Mary warns that such conditions create opportunities for political leaders to present legal protections and institutional checks as obstacles to popular sovereignty, rather than essential safeguards for democracy and individual rights. “In such a climate, it's all too easy for loud and powerful voices to peddle superficially attractive notions of taking back control, having personal freedom, whether on immigration, trade or labour and social rights, and to dismiss legal safeguards and counter-arguments as elitist, technocratic and at odds with the will of the people.” Her keynote also examines the responsibility of countries such as Ireland to defend international cooperation, human rights, and accountability, particularly when the principles underpinning international law are being challenged. The address is followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr Andrew Forde, featuring Zambian lawyer and rule of law advocate Linda Kasonde, human rights solicitor Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, and international lawyer Aonghus Kelly. Drawing on their professional experiences across different jurisdictions, the panellists consider how the rule of law operates in practice, the challenges of holding governments and institutions accountable, and the importance of ensuring that legal protections extend to those whose rights are most vulnerable. The discussion explores the relationship between political power and legal accountability, the role of lawyers and civil society in challenging injustice, and the pressures facing domestic and international justice systems. Together, Mary's keynote and the panel discussion offer a timely examination of why the rule of law matters, not only as a principle of international relations, but as a practical safeguard for democracy, human rights, and access to justice. This special episode of The Justice Edit was recorded at the Museum of Literature Ireland in Dublin on 22 October 2026. Editorial note: The discussion was recorded before subsequent legal developments in the Drumcree/Garvaghy Road parading dispute and therefore does not reflect those developments. With thanks to our funders: Irish Aid. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of Irish Rule of Law International or its donors. Credits: Editor: Evelyn McClafferty Production: GK Media  

The President of the International Bar Association (IBA), Claudio Visco talks about accountability, international justice, democracy, and the future of the rule of law in an increasingly turbulent world. Discussing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Claudio explains why the IBA has supported efforts to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression and reflects on the challenges of ensuring accountability for serious violations of international law. The conversation also examines the war in Gaza and the international legal response to the conflict. Claudio acknowledges the complexity of the situation, while expressing concern about the humanitarian consequences of Israel's actions since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. “In our statement, which we issued immediately after the events, we clearly stressed that we accepted proportionality in the reaction. If you ask me has that proportionality occurred, and this is my personal view – it is Claudio Visco speaking, not the IBA, I am personally convinced it did not.” Claudio also considers whether differing international responses to Ukraine and Gaza risk undermining confidence in global justice mechanisms and discusses the importance of applying international law consistently, regardless of politics or power. The interview explores recent controversies surrounding the International Criminal Court, US sanctions, and executive actions targeting major law firms connected to investigations involving Donald Trump. While warning of growing pressures on legal institutions, Claudio remains hopeful about the resilience of democratic systems. “And this is, for us, an indication that the rule of law is so much part of the culture of a country, like the United States, that we know that the democracy will be able to regain the position that it should have.” The discussion also turns to grave tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with Claudio examining the legal limits of self-defence under the UN Charter. “The United Nations chart says that there must be a reaction to an immediate threat of life or security. Whether what Iran was doing was an immediate threat or not, there was never a clear indication that they were intending to use weapons that they were developing against those states which have been attacking them." Beyond conflict and accountability, Claudio discusses the IBA's work on civic education, democratic resilience and artificial intelligence. He outlines why the organisation has established a dedicated AI Institute to better understand the technology and its implications for both the legal profession and society. The episode concludes with a discussion of the IBA's research into public perceptions of lawyers, the relationship between strong rule-of-law protections and socio-economic outcomes, and why Claudio believes younger generations should not lose faith in democratic institutions despite mounting global challenges. “Younger generations have a very pessimistic situation at what is happening. But for me, this is not justified… we want to take a balanced approach and say, yes, we are the first ones to work on what is going on, and what is going on is a number of serious attacks against the rule of law. But at the same time, you should be aware that the society is reacting. And this is the message we want to convey.” Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our funders: Irish Aid. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of Irish Rule of Law International or its donors.

Across Northern Ireland and beyond, the legacy of conflict continues to raise difficult questions about truth, accountability, and the role of law in divided societies. In this episode of The Justice Edit, human rights lawyer Darragh Mackin reflects on the enduring challenges of addressing the past—and what it takes to build meaningful reconciliation. “28 years after the Good Friday Agreement, we still have not reached a resolution about how we deal with the past.” Darragh Mackin is Director and co-founder of Phoenix Law, a Belfast-based firm specialising in human rights, public law, and international litigation. Described as “a rising star on the international legal scene” (Irish Times), his work has placed him at the centre of some of the most significant legal cases in Ireland and internationally. In this conversation, Darragh reflects on growing up in South Armagh and Newry, and how his early experiences shaped his commitment to justice. He discusses the evolving role of law in Northern Ireland—from the constraints of the pre–Good Friday Agreement era to the opportunities and limitations that exist today. “To allow reconciliation to happen, we can’t just simply put a plaster over the previous cracks—we must address them.” The episode explores whether the legal system has provided a form of stability in the post-Agreement period, particularly in contrast to political uncertainty, and considers the legislation and landmark cases that have advanced human rights protections since 1998. Darragh also discusses some of the defining cases of his career, including his work on ‘The Hooded Men’ litigation, efforts to challenge legacy provisions in recent legislation, and his role in securing justice for families affected by the Stardust fire in Dublin. Reflecting on the 2024 inquest outcome, he recalls a moment that captured decades of perseverance: “When the verdict was read out, the whole room just erupted… and in the middle of it all, I heard one woman say two words: ‘At last.’” The conversation also looks outward, examining the growing pressure on the rule of law globally, and the risks posed when legal norms are weakened or disregarded. “And I think that if we effectively disregard the rule of law, we will enter a very, very dangerous place. Because then we are entering into a world where there are no rules.” At the same time, Darragh reflects on sources of cautious optimism, from cultural shifts among younger generations to new forms of legal collaboration and advocacy. Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our funders: Irish Aid. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of Irish Rule of Law International or its donors.  

Across parts of the world, courts are publicly criticised, lawyers attacked, and democratic norms tested. In the latest episode of The Justice Edit, Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and co-patron of Irish Rule of Law International reflects on what protects public confidence when institutions come under strain. Reflecting on Northern Ireland’s experience of conflict and peacebuilding, Dame Siobhan discusses how the courts functioned during the Troubles — often at a time when other political institutions were suspended — and why judicial independence became essential to maintaining public confidence. “Judicial independence and fairness have been, as I would describe it, lifelines for communities seeking security and equality.” The conversation explores the values that underpin both legal systems on the island of Ireland, the responsibility borne by judges and lawyers in an increasingly populist climate, and the risks that arise when trust in institutions begins to erode. Dame Siobhan also addresses the often-overlooked connection between legal integrity and economic stability: “So markets judge countries harshly where the rule of law is weak. Because the risk of arbitrary action or corruption is high.” Looking beyond Ireland, she reflects on global democratic backsliding and the danger of slow institutional decay: “What worries me is that by the time the damage is visible, recovery can be difficult, and public trust is dangerously undermined.” This episode is released alongside IRLI’s new Strategy 2026–2030, setting out our commitment to strengthen justice systems, defend the rule of law, and deepen cross-jurisdictional collaboration at a time of global democratic strain. Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or its donors.

Former President of Ireland and academic lawyer Dr Mary McAleese delivers a powerful and wide-ranging address on democracy, human dignity, planetary health, and the rule of law in this special end-of-year episode of The Justice Edit (formerly Horsehair Wigs). Recorded in front of a live audience at an IRLI event at the Law Society of Ireland in November, McAleese - in conversation with barrister, Peter Leonard - offers a searing assessment of the global political climate, warning of democratic backsliding, the rise of undemocratic leaders, and the growing normalisation of war and authoritarian power. Reflecting on the postwar international order, she cautions that, “Coming out of the Second World War, we hear now more warmongering talk, all of which can feed the big business that spins out of the war machine.” At the heart of her address is a clear ethical demand: "The sacredness of the human person, the sacredness of the earth — these things have got to be embedded in the employment of capital and big business. Without that, you get a wrecking match — and that’s what we’re seeing.” McAleese warns that democratic progress is never guaranteed, noting that even long-established democracies are now centres of decline: “Rather tragically, famous democracies are now the centre of that backsliding. They use the words democracy and rule of law, but in a sense that none of us would recognise as having any credibility.” She also reflects on the election of autocratic leaders within democratic systems, calling it “an awful sad thing… to see democracies capable of electing autocrats and people with second-century imperial ambitions.” The conversation explores the role of international institutions in resisting impunity and defending accountability. Of the International Criminal Court, McAleese observes that while some states may walk away from responsibility, “the fact that it exists… sends a message to all people under abusers of the rule of law that outside of them, there’s a world that actually dares to care.” She further defends the European Union as a cornerstone of postwar peace and cooperation, urging citizens not to abandon it in moments of frustration: “If you have problems with the European Union, remember why it’s there… You don’t walk away from it. You stay and fight your ground.” McAleese also challenges religious institutions to engage more actively in confronting violence, exploitation, and indifference, noting their global influence, before closing with a stark warning: “We are facing existential crises — and they are upon us in this generation.” This episode was recorded in memory of James Douglas, Irish Rule of Law International’s late Executive Director, and is dedicated to his commitment to human rights and the rule of law. This episode was recorded live in front of an audience, and some variation in audio quality is to be expected. Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or its donors.  

The Americas director of Human Rights Watch, Juanita Goebertus Estrada sits down with us this month to talk about El Salvador’s policy of mass incarceration. For a country the size of Massachusetts in the US, El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Unlawful detention and an abuse of power have become hallmarks of the reign of the Salvadorian President, Nayib Bukele, who once described himself as “the world’s coolest dictator”. The country is a long-running state of emergency – since 2022 - and there are calls to reinstate suspended constitutional rights. “Now, El Salvador has the equivalent of 1.4% of its people incarcerated. In many senses for Salvadorians, this has been presented as a paradox: if they want security, they need to sacrifice their human rights,” says Juanita. According to the World Justice Project, El Salvador ranks 111th across 142 countries in its rule of law index for 2024, with steady declines since 2020. It all started as a crackdown on gangs in 2022 after a series of homicides committed by criminal gangs, but quickly turned into a policy of mass incarceration. Various human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have documented arbitrary arrests, torture and huge violations of due process. According to Juanita: “It started by being able to capture without a warrant, being able to prosecute without sufficient evidence and maintaining people in pre-trial detention indefinitely.”  And as Bukele ramped up his crackdown on civil liberties, he gained a significant ally in the US President Donald Trump. In exchange for a few million dollars, Trump unlawfully deported over 200 Venezuelans from the US who were held in El Salvador’s high security prison for gang members. The deal was done after Bukele went to Washington to visit Trump. “Seeing Trump and Bukele in the Oval Office, it seemed as if they were sharing lessons on how to be an authoritarian leader,” says Juanita. With over 100,000 people now in prison in the country and with reports of torture and mass violations of due process, what’s its future? And what sort of an impact is Trump’s relationship with Bukele having on wider power dynamics in Latin America? Tune in, to hear Juanita’s compelling insights. Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or its donors.

Patrick Paul Walsh of the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin talks to us about the future of overseas aid. Dr. Walsh is currently on secondment to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, where he works as Vice President of Education and the Director of the Sustainable Development Goals Academy. He voices his support for continued efforts towards sustainable development goals, for the greater good: “What it says is that you actually do care for people and nature outside your own jurisdiction. And that you do have a responsibility for them. To operate outside of that would be very, very dangerous.” The most recent figures from the OECD show that international aid from donors fell in 2024 by over 7%. And the headlines have been dominated, this year, by the dismantling of USAID - the largest historical provider of aid. Dr. Walsh questions the lack of a contingency plan for such a big withdrawal of money: “Did anyone think of insuring the project for anyone pulling out? Was there any contingency plan for this? How do, suddenly, the doors shut, and people who need important medicines or orphanages… how do these just close overnight?” Where do we go from here? How do we continue to address global issues, like peace and security, climate change and human rights? Dr. Walsh says people are now looking at other ways of potentially financing developing countries: “We’re kind of thinking how do we finance a sustainable planet. And all countries need to be involved in sustainable development pathways. It’s all people everywhere, not just governments of the developing world…. People are starting to think, why wouldn’t richer countries provide state guarantees? Why wouldn’t they go in with intergovernmental banks? And why can’t big insurance companies do all the modelling and risk analysis? The bottom line is… the money would be there.” Dr. Walsh believes, firmly, that Ireland should continue to push for an international rules-based order and multilateralism, ways in which sustainable development goals can be achieved. As many countries scale up militarisation and misalign themselves with international law, he believes that operating outside of an international order would be very, very dangerous: “We have to do everything possible to promote diplomacy across the world, for everyone. We never should get behind any flags that are against that. And, of course, if they break international law, you call them out. Of course, you support court cases against them in international courts, but you are basically neutral and you want the international order to work, and you keep pushing for that.” Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or Irish Aid.

From supporting Ukrainian justice actors in investigating and prosecuting international crimes to the weakening of the rule of law and the climate crisis, our guest this month, Aonghus Kelly has a lot to talk about. Aonghus is an international criminal and human rights lawyer and has just finished his stint as head of the international crimes’ legal unit for the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM), Ukraine. Aonghus and his team were brought in after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, to help document and collate information, with a view to prosecutions. But, unlike the International Criminal Court, EUAM doesn't have an executive mandate, which Aonghus found frustrating: “You know what to do. You know how to do it. You know what needs to be done. But you can’t do it. So you can just advise them.” And Aonghus is also skeptical about seeing multiple cases go before the ICC, believing rather in financial compensation as a more realistic means of justice for Ukrainians, but says redirecting frozen Russian assets for this purpose might prove problematic: “What about the other terrible actions being taken by sovereign countries around the world. Are their assets going to be seized?” Aonghus, like other previous guests on the podcast, expresses great concern over the rule of law, as some western states continue to support Israel: “Given what we are lecturing the Russians on, this is a little problematic, if western countries aren’t as fulsome in their expressions as regards Israel, as they have been as regards Russia. In fact, it worries me deeply because it seems to prove one of Putin’s talking points, which is that the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Justice system, the International Rule of Law is all a western construct and is a complete fake and just serves the west. I don’t believe that. I have never believed that. But you’d have to say, this is a useful piece of evidence for him (Putin), to exhibit before us all and say, ‘I told you’. Aonghus recently upskilled in getting a Masters in Sustainability from Cambridge. He talks about the climate crisis, the human rights abuses associated with extractivism, climate denialism and biodiversity loss: “What we are telling people right now is, ‘We don’t care if your land is being swallowed up by the Sahara Desert, or the rains don’t come anymore, or the big fishing ships have come from rich Northern countries and have swooped up all of your fish. We don’t care about any of that. You need to stay there in squalor and, of course, do look at your mobile phone that we have sold you.'” Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or Irish Aid.

What does the rule of law mean? That’s the question on our podcast this month, with our guest Maria McCloskey, Irish Rule of Law International’s (IRLI) Executive Director. There is no one-agreed definition of the rule of law, but broadly it’s a set of principles upon which a foundation of a society is built and governed - politically, institutionally and legally. Some of the core elements are justice, equality and peace. For Maria: “The key principles, for me, are equality before the law, access to justice and it’s also about having an independent judiciary, and that separation of powers between legislature and the judiciary.” Maria further discusses what the rule of law means in the context of IRLI’s programming. With an extensive access to justice programme in Malawi, serving the most vulnerable in the community and a programme in Zambia helping to tackle widespread corruption in the country, along with a pilot project improving access to justice for unrepresented accused people, Maria feels there is great interest in IRLI’s work: “Almost on a daily basis I have individuals and organisations saying, ‘Is there anything I can do?,’ so I know that the will of the people here in Ireland - North and South - is huge and growing all the time.” Maria’s thoughts are especially interesting, given recent sweeping blows to human rights globally, particularly since U.S President Donald Trump entered his second term in office. “We can see so many countries around the world starting to take backward or retrograde steps and undoing some of those systems that have been built up since World War II. There is an element of the unravelling of the protections which is very concerning and worrying,” she says. Maria also talks about another pilot programme IRLI has launched, in Tigray, supporting victims’ groups; ensuring their voices are heard, as part of the peace process there. She believes that academics and civil society groups in Ireland are uniquely positioned to provide expertise in the transitional justice space, given The Troubles in the North. And she talks about a recent visit to Ireland from the Ukrainian judiciary, who operate in the country despite Russia’s continued invasion. Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty. With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or Irish Aid.

On this month’s show, we’re joined by Alia Al Ghussain, a researcher and advisor with Amnesty Tech, who talks about the huge need to centre human rights in the technology sector. “This is a bad situation and it’s primed to get even worse,” she says, on the back of the move by Meta earlier this year, to end its practice in the US of fact-checking information posted on its platform. The development is seen as a backward step to curry favour with the Trump administration, according to Alia: “It marks a very clear retreat from the company’s previously stated commitments to responsible content governance and I think it also shows that Meta hasn’t learned from its previous recklessness, or if it has learned anything that those learnings have been discarded, basically.” Amnesty Tech has previously investigated and released reports into the role that various tech companies have had in human rights abuses. One of the major reports that first shed light on the issue - that of digital players now needing to own responsibility - was its report into the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim community in Myanmar, looking into what role Meta played; how hate speech on its platform promoted violence against the Rohingya. The report found that, “Meta’s algorithms proactively amplified and promoted content which incited violence, hatred, and discrimination against the Rohingya – pouring fuel on the fire of long-standing discrimination and substantially increasing the risk of an outbreak of mass violence.” And it concluded that: “Meta substantially contributed to adverse human rights impacts suffered by the Rohingya and has a responsibility to provide survivors with an effective remedy.” Another major report Alia was involved in looked at Facebook’s role in contributing to violence during the brutal two-year conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, which began in 2020 when the Ethiopian government began military operations there against the region’s ruling party. Amnesty concluded that Meta had once again – “through its content-shaping algorithms and data-hungry business model – contributed to serious human rights abuses.” In this episode, Alia explains how big tech players make their money from users’ data and discusses the harmful impacts of algorithmic curated content. She also shares her knowledge on how content goes viral, emphasising that it’s not necessarily that the content is good, but rather that it elicits an emotional reaction amongst users and generates a lot of engagement. Ultimately, Alia believes that digital platforms need to be redesigned with human rights at the centre and she calls for more governance in this area: “I think that governments and some regional bodies, like the EU, really need to double down their efforts to rein in big tech companies, like Meta and others, and also to hold them accountable… because this is about people’s lives at the end of the day. This isn’t an intellectual debate.” Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or Irish Aid.