Can you tell me about your role at Amnesty and how you got into it?

I work in the Global Human Rights Defenders team as a researcher. In my current role I use my experience of working alongside human rights defenders that I gained in this and previous roles at Amnesty, Peace Brigades International and Christian Aid, and volunteering with local organizations in Mexico and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  

Each experience has given me insight into the deep commitment front line human rights defenders have towards their communities and the wider human rights project, despite the daily challenges and risks they face.

Together with your team, you recently produced a podcast called On The Side of Humanity. How was this idea conceived?

We wrote the first series of the podcast to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, a UN document which recognizes the right to defend rights and what conditions should be in place to make this possible.

An important aspect of the Declaration is that it not only protects defenders, it also encourages anyone to take action to defend human rights, however big or small that action is. Human rights are never definitively won, they must be vigorously defended constantly, as there is always a risk that they may be eroded or taken away, whether it is the right to protest or the right to get an abortion.

Through the podcast, we wanted to reach a wider audience than the one we reach with our written reports, while giving listeners a sense of who human rights defenders are. We start from that historic milestone of the Declaration and then give a flavour of today’s struggles and achievements of defenders from different corners of world. That includes fighting corruption, defending the right to water, the right to access our sexual and reproductive rights, or to live in dignity and free from discrimination.

Can you describe the podcast in five words?

Awe-inspiring defenders talking to you. Surely awe-inspiring is one word!

Can you tell me about some of the standout stories from the podcast and what they meant to you?

There were so many stories to choose from, and one of the hardest tasks of the podcast was to pick just a few so as not to overwhelm the listeners. One of my favourite stories is that of Veronica Cruz Sanchez, whom I’ve known about since the late 2000s. At the time she started her struggle to free women imprisoned for having a miscarriage. She got huge wins in a highly conservative state like Guanajuato, in central Mexico. I absolutely love how she sees an injustice and just challenges it.

But she didn’t stop there, she and her group later found ways to help women across the border in the USA, in places like Texas where women are highly restricted in their right to have an abortion.  

There are two series so far, the second being about abortion rights – some of the people featured face risks for speaking out. Why was it important for them to be in the podcast?

Standing up for human rights can be very costly, especially if you don’t have a supportive community around you. Many human rights defenders around the world have lost their lives, especially in places like Colombia, Brazil, Mexico. They get killed for defending their territories. , who’s in the podcast and defends the right to water in Chile, had her house burned down.

But even in Europe things can get tricky. Take Isabel Stabile from Malta. She was just doing her job as a gynaecologist, advocating for abortion rights and ensuring women get access to information. She didn’t do anything illegal or even controversial in my view. Yet she faced ostracization in her job, she was threatened and insulted and got punched in the face.

It’s important to hear about these stories because these attacks happen everywhere.

What makes a human rights podcast different from a usual podcast?

At Amnesty, our main aim is to bring these stories to everyone’s attention. We want people to understand the intense pressure that human rights defenders face and the incredible risks they take for justice and human rights, so we can show our solidarity and gratitude, and call for change.

Because of the risks they face, we need to be extra careful and ensure those who share their personal stories of resistance are happy with the final product and that it also fits a bigger human rights strategy.

It’s not just about telling an interesting story; it’s about impact too.

How does it feel to be nominated for a British Podcast Award? And why should people vote for On the Side of Humanity?

We were chuffed when we heard about the nomination and pleasantly surprised, if I’m honest. We are not professional podcasters, nor do we feature celebrities that automatically attract a wider audience, so getting this kind of exposure for the stories we care about is absolutely what we hoped for.

Amnesty is well known for its well-researched written reports, but how many people read them from the beginning to the end? This was a bit of an experiment: we wanted to try out a format that is more accessible to a wider public.

How is Amnesty supporting people featured in the podcast?

Amnesty is a human rights campaigning organization. We work alongside human rights defenders around the world and help them get the attention they deserve and the protection they need when they are attacked. We don’t always get a positive outcome, but you’d be amazed at how much human rights campaigns achieve, whether it is a change in the law, righting a wrong or releasing people from jail.

At the same time, we also do less public work, including helping individuals, groups, their families and communities getting immediate support, for example with legal fees, medical bills, or relocation to a safer place. It’s small amounts of money that really go a long way to support individuals at risk in very practical ways.

What advice do you have for campaigners or activists – particularly with no prior experience – who want to start a podcast?

No amount of money can make up for a lack of interesting stories. And we think we have that in spades when we talk about human rights defenders.

In our case we also worked hard not just to make it interesting, but to ensure our key human rights messages really came across.

What inspired your activism?

My parents were Italian antifascist, they were self-taught and saw the world with a social justice lens so they got involved in politics and voluntary work. I suppose I absorbed their sense of justice and indignation about oppression. That’s why I feel an affinity with human rights defenders, their actions against injustice feel inspiring and familiar at the same time.

What does your day-to-day work look like?

There are different aspects: I might review Amnesty documents and ensure that the language on defenders is strong and up to date, I might research a topic related to human rights defenders, interview them and write research documents to highlight the patterns of attacks they suffer or to advocate about their protection needs. Or I might support individuals in getting to a safer place, for example with a temporary or longer-term relocation opportunities. Another important aspect is maintaining the collaboration with fellow human rights organizations so that we support each other in our goals.

How do you cope with hearing stories about hardship, devastation and loss?

I do get overwhelmed sometimes. So, at the end of the working day, I am not always able to read or watch the news and hear more of that. Instead, I might walk the dog, enjoy nature and listen to music. I also love comedy shows, and when I can, I go see some stand-up comedy.

One thing I have noticed is that many defenders have a great sense of humour and develop interesting perspectives about life. It’s definitely a coping strategy, but you can’t laugh everything away.

What inspires you to keep going?

I get daily inspiration from human rights defenders. Just listen to the podcast and you might get a bit of that inspiration too. Bottom line, please listen to the podcast, enjoy, and vote for it! If we win, this is a recognition for all the defenders involved.