In this compelling episode of Lawyering Peace, Ambassador Keith Harper, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, explores the intricate relationship between human rights and the establishment of durable peace. Drawing from his extensive experience in global diplomacy, Ambassador Harper discusses how the promotion and protection of human rights are essential pillars of lasting peace. He delves into the challenges of integrating human rights into peace negotiations, especially when accountability is at stake, offering real-world examples from South Sudan to Sri Lanka.

Through an engaging conversation, Ambassador Harper addresses the role of the UN Human Rights Council and Commissions of Inquiry in influencing peace processes, and provides insights into how the international community can better incorporate human rights into peacebuilding efforts.

Tune in for a deep dive into the critical, though often imperfect, work of intertwining human rights with peace.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Hind Kabawat, Deputy Head of the Syrian Negotiation Commission Office in Geneva. Hind shares her insights from growing up in Damascus to becoming a key figure in the Geneva peace talks.

Hind delves into the profound challenges faced during the Syrian conflict, from the brutal dictatorship to the devastating chemical attacks in Ghouta. She recounts the harrowing experiences of Syrian activists and civilians who have endured unimaginable suffering, and how the Arab Spring ignited a flame of hope among Syrians longing for change.

As a lawyer and peacebuilder, Hind emphasizes the importance of women's involvement in peace negotiations. She discusses her pioneering efforts to create a women's consultation, overcoming opposition from male colleagues, and ultimately securing a 30% quota for women’s representation in the opposition delegation during the Syrian peace negotiations. Hind illustrates how these efforts brought together women from diverse backgrounds to push for justice, human rights, and the inclusion of their voices in shaping Syria’s future.

Listeners will gain insight into some of the challenges faced by the Syrian opposition delegation, including the difficulty of negotiating with actors actively killing their families and friends. Hind also provides insights into the delegation’s strategic use of media, and the critical roles played by women as well as grassroots movements in sustaining dialogue and preparing for a future peace. Hind candidly shares her views on the international community’s role, the failures of the Geneva talks, and the persistent need for transitional justice in Syria.

Hind’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination required to pursue peace in the face of adversity. Her message is clear: peace is not just about negotiations at the table; it’s about fostering a culture of dialogue, inclusion, and justice that transcends political will. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the dynamics of peacebuilding, the power of women in conflict resolution, and the ongoing struggle for a peaceful future in Syria.

In part two of our conversation with Robert Ford, former U.S. Ambassador to Syria, we delve into the turbulent years of 2011-2014, a period marked by the breakdown of dialogue, escalating conflict, and the Geneva Peace Talks.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Role of Embassies: Ford emphasizes the importance of neutrality in diplomatic missions, highlighting how U.S. involvement often complicates matters.
• Dialogue Gone Wrong: The attempted dialogue between the Syrian government and protesters was abruptly derailed, leading to a full-blown conflict and a call for a ceasefire by the UN.
• The Geneva Peace Talks: Ford provides an insider’s view of the Geneva process, where the Syrian opposition and government were supposed to negotiate a transitional government. However, the talks quickly fell apart when Assad’s regime refused to discuss political transition, focusing only on security arrangements.
• Challenges of Negotiation: Ford discusses the difficulty of overcoming a “no” in negotiations, especially when one side has a military advantage. This lack of compromise led to the collapse of the peace talks.
• Lessons for Mediators: Drawing from his experiences, Ford offers practical advice on coalition-building and the pitfalls of making promises that can’t be kept—a mistake the U.S. made repeatedly, damaging its credibility.

Tune in to this episode for a deep dive into the complexities of the Syrian crisis and the lessons that can be learned for future peace negotiations.

This episode of Lawyering Peace features part one of a conversation with Ambassador Robert Ford, who led the political office in the U.S. Embassy in Iraq from 2004 - 2006, during a pivotal time in the country’s history. Charged with helping Iraq rebuild its government, Ford offers a candid reflection on the challenges and lessons learned from the 2005 Iraqi elections—an event that was as much about international diplomacy as it was about democracy.

Key takeaways from the episode:

• UN-led Process: The 2005 Iraqi elections were spearheaded by the UN, but the U.S. played a significant role in ensuring security, highlighting the complexities of balancing international and local dynamics.
• Election Dynamics: The setup of the elections was influenced by various agendas, leading to unintended consequences, such as the Sunni boycott, which exacerbated existing political tensions.
• The Importance of Communication: Ford underscores the critical need for effective communication within and between different U.S. entities, such as the military and the embassy, to navigate the delicate post-conflict environment.
• Strategic Decisions: From promoting federalism to handling oil profits, Ford discusses the nuanced negotiations and strategic decisions that shaped Iraq’s transition from authoritarianism to democracy.

Robert Ford's insights offer a profound understanding of how elections, when not complemented by broader political processes, can sometimes deepen divides rather than bridge them.

Tune in to this episode for a deep dive into the realities of post-conflict elections and the lessons that can inform future peacebuilding efforts.

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, we sit down with Ambassador Jorge Lomanco, a distinguished diplomat from Mexico who has served as an ambassador to both the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Organization of American States. As the chief negotiator of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, for which he and his team were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Ambassador Lomanco brings a wealth of experience to the table.

The conversation dives deep into the critical role human rights play in achieving durable peace. Ambassador Lomanco discusses the moral obligation to prioritize human rights at every level of peace negotiations, emphasizing that the protection of these rights is essential for durable peace. He provides insights into how human rights have been both pivotal and sidelined in various peace processes around the world, from transitions in Latin American states to South Africa's peace process.

Ambassador Lomanco also tackles the challenges of centering human rights in peace negotiations, particularly when dealing with regimes that have committed widespread abuses. He explores the often difficult choices between offering amnesty to dictators and the need for accountability, sharing examples from Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, and beyond.

Moreover, the episode sheds light on the role of the UN Human Rights Council in conflict situations, highlighting its responsibilities, tools, and the importance of remaining engaged to prevent the escalation of violence. Ambassador Lomanco shares his views on the impact of Commissions of Inquiry and the future intersection of peace and human rights, stressing the major impact of political will and international cooperation on the effectiveness of UN mechanisms.

Amb. Lomanco reflects on the significant contributions of the UN and regional bodies like the Organization of American States (OAS) in shaping a world where human rights are increasingly protected, even amidst ongoing challenges. This episode offers a profound look at the complexities of integrating human rights into peace processes and the ongoing efforts needed to ensure lasting peace.

Dive into the riveting behind-the-scenes story of Sudan’s 2020 Juba Peace Agreement negotiations with Mohammed al-Ta'ishi, chief negotiator for the Sudanese Transitional Government and key architect of the Agreement. In this must-listen episode of Lawyering Peace, al-Ta'ishi reveals the challenges and triumphs of negotiating peace amidst Sudan's complex military and civilian dynamics.

From his roots in South Darfur to leading pivotal peace talks for his country, al-Ta'ishi offers a unique perspective on the intricate art of negotiation. Learn how he managed an eclectic civilian-military delegation, dealt with nefarious actors, navigated power-sharing dilemmas, and championed transitional justice. His insights provide a critical understanding of the current conflict in Sudan and offer valuable lessons in negotiation and peacebuilding.

Mohammed al-Ta'ishi's story is a testament to the power of determination, good faith, and the relentless pursuit of peace. Don't miss this chance to hear from one of the chief architects of the Juba Agreement and gain a deeper understanding of Sudan's journey toward peace.

In this special episode of the Lawyering Peace podcast, we are honored to host Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre, who brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career as Paraguay's Minister of Foreign Affairs and as the Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Aguirre has also served as Paraguay's Ambassador to the United States, Canada, and Brazil, and as Head of Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Ambassador Aguirre delves into the critical role that human rights protections play in building and sustaining durable peace. Drawing from his experience in various conflict zones, he highlights how acknowledging human rights violations during conflict during the peace processes, is foundational to achieving lasting peace. Through the lens of the Colombian conflict, Aguirre discusses the challenges in balancing the immediate need to end violence with the necessity of embedding human rights into peace negotiations.

He emphasizes that for peace to be sustainable, it must be built on the ground, starting with the empowerment of local communities. Aguirre argues that human rights should not only be a component of peace agreements but also a core principle guiding the entire peacebuilding process. He shares insights on how the United Nations Human Rights Council's mechanisms, such as fact-finding missions and commissions of inquiry, can provide crucial information that ensures accountability and justice are part of the peace process.

Ambassador Aguirre also calls for a shift from a reactive to a more preventive approach in addressing human rights abuses, advocating for greater collaboration and information-sharing among human rights bodies to promote more comprehensive and effective peacebuilding strategies.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of human rights and peace processes, as it provides actionable insights and recommendations for integrating human rights into the heart of peacebuilding efforts.

Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran joins Dr. Williams on this compelling episode of Lawyering Peace. Mr. Rudrakumaran, or Rudra, served as the former legal advisor to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the peace talks with the Government of Sri Lanka that commenced in 2000. He is currently heading the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam in exile as its Prime Minister.

Rudra provides a vivid recount of the context leading to the Norwegian-facilitated peace process in Thailand, detailing his journey to becoming the LTTE’s chief legal advisor. He delves into the unique challenges faced by lawyers representing non-state armed actors in peace negotiations, particularly the struggle to achieve and maintain parity with state actors amidst international perspectives favoring states.

Through gripping narratives, Rudra illustrates how the LTTE sought to counterbalance the government’s legal and resource advantages by leveraging the Tamil diaspora and engaging in strategic lawfare. He offers practical advice for lawyers on how to effectively integrate into their client's team and utilize soft power to influence negotiations.

Rudra's experiences underscore Dr. Williams’ frequent assertion about the need to understand and navigate the parallel agendas of international mediators. He candidly discusses how these separate interests contributed to the challenges faced by the LTTE and the eventual collapse of the peace process. The episode also touches on the importance of diaspora involvement, the dynamics between local communities and the diaspora, and the pursuit of justice through international mechanisms.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the Sri Lankan peace talks, the role of lawyers in representing non-state actors, and the impact of international third-party mediators in peace processes.