Podcast appearances and mentions of elaine pearson

Hong Kong passed a new national security law that cracks down on all forms of dissent and allows for trials to be held behind closed doors. This has triggered fresh criticism over fear that it will further erode civil liberties. Elaine Pearson, Asia Director, Human Rights Watch shares with us what is in this new law, its impact, and what can the international community do.Image Credit: EPA-EFE

Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has pleaded not guilty to all charges in a national security trial. He has been incarcerated since December 2020 for alleged fraud and involvement in a vigil to mark the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Elaine Pearson, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch shares with us concerns about how the fundamental rights of Hong Kongers are slowly but surely eroding.Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022) by Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, is an intimate account of her journey fighting for human rights across the world. Part personal journey, part insider's peek into the work of international human rights organizations, Chasing Wrongs and Rights is also a primer on advocacy with governments, an indictment of Australia's human rights record and foreign policy, a career guide for people who want to work in human rights, and a reflection about what it takes for human rights change to happen. Above all the book comes out as a tribute to the activists and victims that she met, worked with, and fought for over the years in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and many other places. In this interview, Elaine talks about the work that Human Rights Watch does, her family history in China, her early career in anti-trafficking, her run-ins with abusive or complacent governments, and why fighting for accountability always makes a difference. Nicholas Bequelin is a human rights professional with a PhD in history and a scholarly bent. He has worked about 20 years for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, most recently as Regional director for Asia. He's currently a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022) by Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, is an intimate account of her journey fighting for human rights across the world. Part personal journey, part insider's peek into the work of international human rights organizations, Chasing Wrongs and Rights is also a primer on advocacy with governments, an indictment of Australia's human rights record and foreign policy, a career guide for people who want to work in human rights, and a reflection about what it takes for human rights change to happen. Above all the book comes out as a tribute to the activists and victims that she met, worked with, and fought for over the years in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and many other places. In this interview, Elaine talks about the work that Human Rights Watch does, her family history in China, her early career in anti-trafficking, her run-ins with abusive or complacent governments, and why fighting for accountability always makes a difference. Nicholas Bequelin is a human rights professional with a PhD in history and a scholarly bent. He has worked about 20 years for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, most recently as Regional director for Asia. He's currently a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law

Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022) by Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, is an intimate account of her journey fighting for human rights across the world. Part personal journey, part insider's peek into the work of international human rights organizations, Chasing Wrongs and Rights is also a primer on advocacy with governments, an indictment of Australia's human rights record and foreign policy, a career guide for people who want to work in human rights, and a reflection about what it takes for human rights change to happen. Above all the book comes out as a tribute to the activists and victims that she met, worked with, and fought for over the years in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and many other places. In this interview, Elaine talks about the work that Human Rights Watch does, her family history in China, her early career in anti-trafficking, her run-ins with abusive or complacent governments, and why fighting for accountability always makes a difference. Nicholas Bequelin is a human rights professional with a PhD in history and a scholarly bent. He has worked about 20 years for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, most recently as Regional director for Asia. He's currently a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022) by Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, is an intimate account of her journey fighting for human rights across the world. Part personal journey, part insider's peek into the work of international human rights organizations, Chasing Wrongs and Rights is also a primer on advocacy with governments, an indictment of Australia's human rights record and foreign policy, a career guide for people who want to work in human rights, and a reflection about what it takes for human rights change to happen. Above all the book comes out as a tribute to the activists and victims that she met, worked with, and fought for over the years in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and many other places. In this interview, Elaine talks about the work that Human Rights Watch does, her family history in China, her early career in anti-trafficking, her run-ins with abusive or complacent governments, and why fighting for accountability always makes a difference. Nicholas Bequelin is a human rights professional with a PhD in history and a scholarly bent. He has worked about 20 years for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, most recently as Regional director for Asia. He's currently a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/australian-and-new-zealand-studies

Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022) by Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, is an intimate account of her journey fighting for human rights across the world. Part personal journey, part insider's peek into the work of international human rights organizations, Chasing Wrongs and Rights is also a primer on advocacy with governments, an indictment of Australia's human rights record and foreign policy, a career guide for people who want to work in human rights, and a reflection about what it takes for human rights change to happen. Above all the book comes out as a tribute to the activists and victims that she met, worked with, and fought for over the years in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and many other places. In this interview, Elaine talks about the work that Human Rights Watch does, her family history in China, her early career in anti-trafficking, her run-ins with abusive or complacent governments, and why fighting for accountability always makes a difference. Nicholas Bequelin is a human rights professional with a PhD in history and a scholarly bent. He has worked about 20 years for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, most recently as Regional director for Asia. He's currently a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Law School. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies

Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022) by Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, is an intimate account of her journey fighting for human rights across the world. Part personal journey, part insider's peek into the work of international human rights organizations, Chasing Wrongs and Rights is also a primer on advocacy with governments, an indictment of Australia's human rights record and foreign policy, a career guide for people who want to work in human rights, and a reflection about what it takes for human rights change to happen. Above all the book comes out as a tribute to the activists and victims that she met, worked with, and fought for over the years in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and many other places. In this interview, Elaine talks about the work that Human Rights Watch does, her family history in China, her early career in anti-trafficking, her run-ins with abusive or complacent governments, and why fighting for accountability always makes a difference. Nicholas Bequelin is a human rights professional with a PhD in history and a scholarly bent. He has worked about 20 years for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, most recently as Regional director for Asia. He's currently a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022) by Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, is an intimate account of her journey fighting for human rights across the world. Part personal journey, part insider's peek into the work of international human rights organizations, Chasing Wrongs and Rights is also a primer on advocacy with governments, an indictment of Australia's human rights record and foreign policy, a career guide for people who want to work in human rights, and a reflection about what it takes for human rights change to happen. Above all the book comes out as a tribute to the activists and victims that she met, worked with, and fought for over the years in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and many other places. In this interview, Elaine talks about the work that Human Rights Watch does, her family history in China, her early career in anti-trafficking, her run-ins with abusive or complacent governments, and why fighting for accountability always makes a difference. Nicholas Bequelin is a human rights professional with a PhD in history and a scholarly bent. He has worked about 20 years for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, most recently as Regional director for Asia. He's currently a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Human rights activist and director of Human Rights Watch Australia Elaine Pearson joins Graham Cornes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elaine Pearson is the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch and a board member of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. Elaine has spent a lifetime defending human rights around the world. From human trafficking in in Nepal to the 'drug war' in the Philippines, to the treatment of detainees in Papua New Guinea and in Australia and her experiences in Sri Lanka and Nigeria. Chasing Wrongs and Rights is a deeply personal survey of human rights abuses and governments' failure to address them. It sometimes shows humanity at its worst, but also introduces us to people at their best – compassionate, resilient and determined individuals pressing for change.In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Elaine Pearson about her early experiences as an advocate for Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women at the United Nations in Geneva and how it shaped her career, the refugees in detention on Manus Island that she met and reported on, the time she spent in an Amsterdam prostitutes window, and the challenges that countries across Asia pose for human rights into the future and what we can do about it.

Elaine Pearson is the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch and a board member of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. Elaine has spent a lifetime defending human rights around the world. From human trafficking in in Nepal to the 'drug war' in the Philippines, to the treatment of detainees in Papua New Guinea and in Australia and her experiences in Sri Lanka and Nigeria. 'Chasing Wrongs and Rights' is a deeply personal survey of human rights abuses and governments' failure to address them. It sometimes shows humanity at its worst, but also introduces us to people at their best – compassionate, resilient and determined individuals pressing for change. In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Elaine Pearson about her early experiences as an advocate for Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women at the United Nations in Geneva and how it shaped her career, the refugees in detention on Manus Island that she met and reported on, the time she spent in an Amsterdam prostitutes window, and the challenges that countries across Asia pose for human rights into the future and what we can do about it.

What's really causing inflation in Australia and will jacking up interest rates fix it? Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director of The Australia Institute explains Australia's current economic woes and demystifies the confusion and arguments around the role of the RBA, rising interest rates, increasing inflation, Stage 3 tax cuts, and low wages growth. Richard tells us exactly how these issues affect us and what can be done about them. Tim Entwisle, Director and CEO of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and trained phycologist, joins Amy to speak about his life with plants, as detailed in his new book, Evergreen: The Botanical Life of a Plant Punk. Tim reflects on the role of botanic gardens in cities and around the world, his scientific passion for algae and taxonomy, and much more. Asia Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) Elaine Pearson chats about her memoir, aptly titled, Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World. Elaine discusses her early career focusing on human trafficking and sexual slavery, all the way through to her time at HRW shining a light on human rights violations at home and across the world, including the Philippines and Indonesia.

Asia Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) Elaine Pearson chats about her memoir, aptly titled, Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World. Elaine discusses her early career focusing on human trafficking and sexual slavery, all the way through to her time at HRW shining a light on human rights violations at home and across the world, including the Philippines and Indonesia.

For the next four weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia. To kick off the series, Dr Thushara Dibley is joined by Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson to discuss the interactions and tensions between academic research and investigation of human rights abuses conducted by human rights advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch. Elaine Pearson gives an insight into some of the work conducted by Human Rights Watch across the region, highlighting the core role of research not just in understanding the problem, but in informing their advocacy approach to maximise impact. Together they reflect upon the different goals, methodological approaches, and challenges encountered by researchers, and delve into the ways that advocacy groups can break silos between academic research and real-world problems to progress human rights. About Elaine Pearson: Elaine Pearson is the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch, based in Sydney. She established Human Rights Watch's Australia office in 2013 and works to influence Australian foreign and domestic policies in order to give them a human rights dimension. Pearson writes frequently for a range of publications and her articles have appeared in the Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian, Foreign Policy and the Washington Post. From 2007 to 2012 she was the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division based in New York. She has conducted numerous human rights investigations in Australia and around the world. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Pearson worked for the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kathmandu and London. She is an adjunct lecturer in law at the University of New South Wales, on the advisory committee of UNSW's Australian Human Rights Institute and on the board of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. Pearson holds degrees in law and arts from Murdoch University and obtained her Master's degree in public policy at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. For more information or to browse additional resources, visit the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre's website: www.sydney.edu.au/sseac. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies

For the next four weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia. To kick off the series, Dr Thushara Dibley is joined by Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson to discuss the interactions and tensions between academic research and investigation of human rights abuses conducted by human rights advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch. Elaine Pearson gives an insight into some of the work conducted by Human Rights Watch across the region, highlighting the core role of research not just in understanding the problem, but in informing their advocacy approach to maximise impact. Together they reflect upon the different goals, methodological approaches, and challenges encountered by researchers, and delve into the ways that advocacy groups can break silos between academic research and real-world problems to progress human rights. About Elaine Pearson: Elaine Pearson is the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch, based in Sydney. She established Human Rights Watch's Australia office in 2013 and works to influence Australian foreign and domestic policies in order to give them a human rights dimension. Pearson writes frequently for a range of publications and her articles have appeared in the Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian, Foreign Policy and the Washington Post. From 2007 to 2012 she was the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division based in New York. She has conducted numerous human rights investigations in Australia and around the world. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Pearson worked for the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kathmandu and London. She is an adjunct lecturer in law at the University of New South Wales, on the advisory committee of UNSW's Australian Human Rights Institute and on the board of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. Pearson holds degrees in law and arts from Murdoch University and obtained her Master's degree in public policy at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. For more information or to browse additional resources, visit the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre's website: www.sydney.edu.au/sseac. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the next four weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia. To kick off the series, Dr Thushara Dibley is joined by Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson to discuss the interactions and tensions between academic research and investigation of human rights abuses conducted by human rights advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch. Elaine Pearson gives an insight into some of the work conducted by Human Rights Watch across the region, highlighting the core role of research not just in understanding the problem, but in informing their advocacy approach to maximise impact. Together they reflect upon the different goals, methodological approaches, and challenges encountered by researchers, and delve into the ways that advocacy groups can break silos between academic research and real-world problems to progress human rights. About Elaine Pearson: Elaine Pearson is the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch, based in Sydney. She established Human Rights Watch's Australia office in 2013 and works to influence Australian foreign and domestic policies in order to give them a human rights dimension. Pearson writes frequently for a range of publications and her articles have appeared in the Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian, Foreign Policy and the Washington Post. From 2007 to 2012 she was the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division based in New York. She has conducted numerous human rights investigations in Australia and around the world. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Pearson worked for the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kathmandu and London. She is an adjunct lecturer in law at the University of New South Wales, on the advisory committee of UNSW's Australian Human Rights Institute and on the board of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. Pearson holds degrees in law and arts from Murdoch University and obtained her Master's degree in public policy at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. For more information or to browse additional resources, visit the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre's website: www.sydney.edu.au/sseac.

For the next four weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia. To kick off the series, Dr Thushara Dibley is joined by Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson to discuss the interactions and tensions between academic research and investigation of human rights abuses conducted by human rights advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch. Elaine Pearson gives an insight into some of the work conducted by Human Rights Watch across the region, highlighting the core role of research not just in understanding the problem, but in informing their advocacy approach to maximise impact. Together they reflect upon the different goals, methodological approaches, and challenges encountered by researchers, and delve into the ways that advocacy groups can break silos between academic research and real-world problems to progress human rights. About Elaine Pearson: Elaine Pearson is the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch, based in Sydney. She established Human Rights Watch's Australia office in 2013 and works to influence Australian foreign and domestic policies in order to give them a human rights dimension. Pearson writes frequently for a range of publications and her articles have appeared in the Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian, Foreign Policy and the Washington Post. From 2007 to 2012 she was the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division based in New York. She has conducted numerous human rights investigations in Australia and around the world. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Pearson worked for the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kathmandu and London. She is an adjunct lecturer in law at the University of New South Wales, on the advisory committee of UNSW's Australian Human Rights Institute and on the board of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. Pearson holds degrees in law and arts from Murdoch University and obtained her Master's degree in public policy at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. For more information or to browse additional resources, visit the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre's website: www.sydney.edu.au/sseac. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

While many of us are taking advantage of our pandemic sleep-ins, some ambitious young Aussies are waking up as early as 5am to work on their side hustles and personal projects. But is waking up early all it's made out to be? More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Australian Government to let more refugees in from Afghanistan after the PM announced we'd grant humanitarian visas for 3,000 vulnerable people. Plus, what to do when your mate disappears into a relationship. Live guests: Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch Australia Dr Jo Lukins, psychology consultant and author Elizabeth Shaw, Relationships Australia

A new report from Human Rights Watch reveals the chilling effect some pro-Beijing students are having on free speech on campus.

Defending the right to offend China on campus This year, Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson was interviewed by the media department at the University of New South Wales about the human rights implications of Hong Kong's new national security law. Her comments on Hong Kong new national security legislation upset some students. They claimed the article caused offence to China and demanded the university remove the article. The university temporarily removed the article, but after a public outcry, the article was re-posted with caveats. So how did we get to the point where one of Australia's leading universities agrees to political censorship in favour of another nation state? What should universities do to make sure this does not happen again? Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch Australia Director and adjunct law lecturer at the University of New South Wales. Hiroshima 75th anniversary in August 1945, the US Airforce dropped the Little Boy uranium fission bomb on central Hiroshima, making it the first city ever to be destroyed by a nuclear bomb. Days later, Nagasaki became the second. When the bomb exploded, around 30% percent of Hiroshima's population were killed instantly. Many more died in the months and years to come. The bombs brought an end to World War Two, but the world was horrified at the human cost. Toshihiro Higuchi, Assistant Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; author of Political Fallout: Nuclear Weapons Testing and the Making of a Global Environmental Crisis. Michael Gordin,  Rosengarten Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Princeton University;  co-editor of The Age of Hiroshima

Defending the right to offend China on campus This year, Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson was interviewed by the media department at the University of New South Wales about the human rights implications of Hong Kong's new national security law. Her comments on Hong Kong new national security legislation upset some students. They claimed the article caused offence to China and demanded the university remove the article. The university temporarily removed the article, but after a public outcry, the article was re-posted with caveats. So how did we get to the point where one of Australia's leading universities agrees to political censorship in favour of another nation state? What should universities do to make sure this does not happen again? Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch Australia Director and adjunct law lecturer at the University of New South Wales. Hiroshima 75th anniversary in August 1945, the US Airforce dropped the Little Boy uranium fission bomb on central Hiroshima, making it the first city ever to be destroyed by a nuclear bomb. Days later, Nagasaki became the second. When the bomb exploded, around 30% percent of Hiroshima's population were killed instantly. Many more died in the months and years to come. The bombs brought an end to World War Two, but the world was horrified at the human cost. Toshihiro Higuchi, Assistant Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; author of Political Fallout: Nuclear Weapons Testing and the Making of a Global Environmental Crisis. Michael Gordin,  Rosengarten Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Princeton University;  co-editor of The Age of Hiroshima

Defending the right to offend China on campus Last week, Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson was interviewed by the media department at the University of New South Wales about the human rights implications of Hong Kong's new national security law. Her comments on Hong Kong new national security legislation upset some students. They claimed article caused offence to China and demanded the university remove the article. The university temporarily removed the article, but after a public outcry, the article was re-posted with caveats. So how did we get to the point where one of Australia's leading universities agrees to political censorship in favour of another nation state? What should universities do to make sure this does not happen again? Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch Australia Director and adjunct law lecturer at the University of New South Wales. Hiroshima 75th anniversary At 8.15am on 6th August 1945, the US Airforce dropped the Little Boy uranium fission bomb on central Hiroshima, making it the first city ever to be destroyed by a nuclear bomb. On the 9th of August, Nagasaki became the second. When the bomb exploded around thirty percent of Hiroshima's population were killed instantly. Many more died in the months and years to come. The bombs brought an end to World War Two, but the world was horrified at the human cost. Toshihiro Higuchi, Assistant Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; author of Political Fallout: Nuclear Weapons Testing and the Making of a Global Environmental Crisis. Michael Gordin,  Rosengarten Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Princeton University;  co-editor of The Age of Hiroshima

Defending the right to offend China on campus Last week, Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson was interviewed by the media department at the University of New South Wales about the human rights implications of Hong Kong's new national security law. Her comments on Hong Kong new national security legislation upset some students. They claimed article caused offence to China and demanded the university remove the article. The university temporarily removed the article, but after a public outcry, the article was re-posted with caveats. So how did we get to the point where one of Australia's leading universities agrees to political censorship in favour of another nation state? What should universities do to make sure this does not happen again? Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch Australia Director and adjunct law lecturer at the University of New South Wales. Hiroshima 75th anniversary At 8.15am on 6th August 1945, the US Airforce dropped the Little Boy uranium fission bomb on central Hiroshima, making it the first city ever to be destroyed by a nuclear bomb. On the 9th of August, Nagasaki became the second. When the bomb exploded around thirty percent of Hiroshima's population were killed instantly. Many more died in the months and years to come. The bombs brought an end to World War Two, but the world was horrified at the human cost. Toshihiro Higuchi, Assistant Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; author of Political Fallout: Nuclear Weapons Testing and the Making of a Global Environmental Crisis. Michael Gordin,  Rosengarten Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Princeton University;  co-editor of The Age of Hiroshima

Could COVID-19 be the new terrorism? Arjun talks to Elaine Pearce, Director of Human Rights Watch Australia, and Ben Wizner, Director of ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. They discuss data collection and surveillance in the new era of COVID-19. https://www.aclu.org/report/aclu-white-paper-limits-location-tracking-epidemic https://www.aclu.org/report/aclu-white-paper-principles-technology-assisted-contact-tracing

Africa is home to vibrant film industries, local talk shows, and a digitally-obsessed population. But what are the challenges journalists face when the government is controlling? And how can independent media be protected? Recorded at Antidote 2019 this episode features Mausi Segun, Catherine Gicheru, Prue Clarke and is hosted by Elaine Pearson. 

To mark International Women’s Day in 2019, the Lowy Institute in partnership with Telstra hosted a special event on the impact of authoritarian regimes on women. Today is the era of the “strongman”, as a new wave of authoritarianism spreads across the globe. In countries as diverse as Russia, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Poland, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, macho leadership reigns. Even in contemporary western democracies such as the United States, the ranks of authoritarian populists have swelled. Aside from the grand displays of force, clampdown on minority rights and gagging of the press which typically characterise authoritarian regimes, another striking feature is the limits they impose on the freedoms and power of women. The panel featured: Dr Nicole Curato, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance Lydia Khalil, Research Fellow in the Lowy Institute’s West Asia Program Alex Oliver, Director of Research at the Lowy Institute (moderator) Elaine Pearson, Australia Director, Human Rights Watch Dr Rebecca Sheehan, Lecturer in the Sociology of Gender and Program Director of Gender Studies at Macquarie University

Elaine Pearson is the Australian Director of Human Rights Watch.As a graduate of Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson school, Elaine is a global expert in human rights law and has worked all over world - including stints at the United Nations and various NGOs.Elaine joined Misha Zelinsky for a fascinating chat about the intersection of democracy and human rights, including the fate of Hakeem Al Arabi currently detained in Thailand, China’s use of hostage diplomacy and its muslim reeducation camps, whether autocrats are winning the global PR battle and what role Australia has as a middle power in global diplomacy.

Elaine Pearson is the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch. Based in Sydney, she works to influence Australian foreign and domestic policies in order to give them a human rights dimension. Pearson regularly briefs journalists, politicians and government officials, appears on television and radio programs, testifies before parliamentary committees and speaks at public events. Pearson writes frequently for publications including Harper's Bazaar, the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal. She is an adjunct lecturer in law at the University of New South Wales. From 2007 to 2012 she was the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division based in New York. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Pearson worked for the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kathmandu and London. She is an expert on migration and human trafficking issues and sits on the board of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. Pearson holds degrees in law and arts from Australia's Murdoch University and obtained her Master's degree in public policy at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

Mary Dejevsky says there are holes in the UK case against Russia in the Novichok poisonings, Elaine Pearson on China's repression of its Muslim population.

Ai Weiwei’s Law of the Journey, 2017, an imposing installation featuring a 60-metre-long boat crowded with hundreds of anonymous refugee figures, provokes this frank discussion of Australia’s response to asylum seekers arriving by boat – and today’s approach to refugees globally. What is the relevance of the 1951 Refugee Convention when more people have been forced to flee their homes now than at any time since the World War? How does international law influence domestic politics around the world? What are the repercussions of Australia’s bipartisan policy of offshore processing on Manus and Nauru, and is the country prepared to deal with current crises, such as the Rohingya exodus from Myanmar, or future pressures of people displaced by climate change? International legal expert Guy Goodwin-Gill of UNSW’s Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law; lawyer and prize-winning Offshore author Madeline Gleeson; and award-winning Guardian journalist Ben Doherty talk law, policy, politics and solutions. The panel was moderated by Elaine Pearson, Australia Director, Human Rights Watch. Presented by the Biennale of Sydney and UNSW’s Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law.

On this episode, Olga Klepova meets with Human Rights Watch Australia director Elaine Pearson on the eve of World Refugee Day to discuss the pressing issues of their local and global work.

Simon Cowan's participation to a discussion panel with Elaine Pearson, Erin Watson-Lynn, Katharine Murphy and Merriden Varrall on the ABC show The Drum. ____________________ The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future. Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/ Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true

This week Kulja and Dylan start with the the Reading Room talking to Mel Kranenburg and Micheal Green about a book he has help put together "They Cannot Take the Sky" a collection of stories from asylum seekers about their experiences in detention.Then the director of the Australian Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson, comes on the show talk about the how the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, is handling drug policy.

To commemorate International Women’s Day 2015, the Lowy Institute for International Policy hosted a special ‘Women in Foreign Policy’ panel. Jenny Hayward-Jones, Lauren Williams, Elaine Pearson and Geraldine Doogue discussed the gender challenges faced by women in Melanesia, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, as well as their personal experiences perusing careers that research, report and advocate gender issues in foreign policy.