On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Alessandra Cao speaks with Dr Niamh Keady-Tabbal about the topic of “Drift-backs” in the Aegean, the role of Frontex, and the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) failure to hold Greece accountable for serious human rights violations committed in the Aegean during systematic push-back operations.
The conversation first introduces the topic of push-backs at the external borders of the EU, the relatively new phenomenon of “drift-backs” in the Aegean Sea and their relation to European “migration management” strategies as well as human rights concerns arising from these practices. The speakers then dive into the recent European Court of Human Rights decision in the case of GRJ v Greece – a push-back case decided in January 2025, in which Niamh was closely involved – to discuss the evidentiary difficulties arising for applicants in push-back cases, and evaluate the way in which the ECtHR – despite explicitly acknowledging them – has failed to adequately accommodate these difficulties.
During the conversation, we referenced a number of cases and academic works. You can read more about the various topics in the links below:
#1 Journal Article “Weaponising Rescue: Law and the Materiality of Migration Management in the Aegean” by Niamh Keady-Tabbal and Itamar Mann (Leiden Journal of International Law, 2023): access
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/leiden-journal-of-international-law/article/weaponizing-rescue-law-and-the-materiality-of-migration-management-in-the-aegean/068B225CF16390CCBA5FFD10FC3CEF8C?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark
#2 Blog Post “Tents at Sea: How Greek Officials Use Rescue Equipment for Illegal Deportations” (Just Security, 2020): access https://www.justsecurity.org/70309/tents-at-sea-how-greek-officials-use-rescue-equipment-for-illegal-deportations/
#3 Forensic Architecture study about the practice of “drift-backs”: access https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/drift-backs-in-the-aegean-sea
#4 Journal Article “The Enforced Disappearance of Migrants” by Valentina Azariva, Amanda Danson Brown, and Itamar Mann (Boston University International Law Journal, 2022): access https://www.bu.edu/ilj/files/2022/08/Vol.-40.1-Azarova-et-al.-online-unprinted.pdf
#5 European Court of Human Rights Judgment in GRJ v Greece: access the original judgment in French , and the official summary in English
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-243431%22]}
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press?i=003-8124872-11378023
#6 European Court of Human Rights Judgment in ARE v Greece: access the original judgment in French , and the official summary in English
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-238636%22]}
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press#{%22itemid%22:[%22003-8124877-11378031%22]}
The podcast was produced by Alessandra Cao, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).
All content for The Human Rights Podcast is the property of Irish Centre for Human Rights and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Alessandra Cao speaks with Dr Niamh Keady-Tabbal about the topic of “Drift-backs” in the Aegean, the role of Frontex, and the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) failure to hold Greece accountable for serious human rights violations committed in the Aegean during systematic push-back operations.
The conversation first introduces the topic of push-backs at the external borders of the EU, the relatively new phenomenon of “drift-backs” in the Aegean Sea and their relation to European “migration management” strategies as well as human rights concerns arising from these practices. The speakers then dive into the recent European Court of Human Rights decision in the case of GRJ v Greece – a push-back case decided in January 2025, in which Niamh was closely involved – to discuss the evidentiary difficulties arising for applicants in push-back cases, and evaluate the way in which the ECtHR – despite explicitly acknowledging them – has failed to adequately accommodate these difficulties.
During the conversation, we referenced a number of cases and academic works. You can read more about the various topics in the links below:
#1 Journal Article “Weaponising Rescue: Law and the Materiality of Migration Management in the Aegean” by Niamh Keady-Tabbal and Itamar Mann (Leiden Journal of International Law, 2023): access
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/leiden-journal-of-international-law/article/weaponizing-rescue-law-and-the-materiality-of-migration-management-in-the-aegean/068B225CF16390CCBA5FFD10FC3CEF8C?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark
#2 Blog Post “Tents at Sea: How Greek Officials Use Rescue Equipment for Illegal Deportations” (Just Security, 2020): access https://www.justsecurity.org/70309/tents-at-sea-how-greek-officials-use-rescue-equipment-for-illegal-deportations/
#3 Forensic Architecture study about the practice of “drift-backs”: access https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/drift-backs-in-the-aegean-sea
#4 Journal Article “The Enforced Disappearance of Migrants” by Valentina Azariva, Amanda Danson Brown, and Itamar Mann (Boston University International Law Journal, 2022): access https://www.bu.edu/ilj/files/2022/08/Vol.-40.1-Azarova-et-al.-online-unprinted.pdf
#5 European Court of Human Rights Judgment in GRJ v Greece: access the original judgment in French , and the official summary in English
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-243431%22]}
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press?i=003-8124872-11378023
#6 European Court of Human Rights Judgment in ARE v Greece: access the original judgment in French , and the official summary in English
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-238636%22]}
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press#{%22itemid%22:[%22003-8124877-11378031%22]}
The podcast was produced by Alessandra Cao, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).
Social Change Lawyering and Strategic Human Rights Litigation w Gearoid Ó Cuinn from GLAN
The Human Rights Podcast
49 minutes 51 seconds
6 months ago
Social Change Lawyering and Strategic Human Rights Litigation w Gearoid Ó Cuinn from GLAN
On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Alessandra Cao speaks with Gearóid Ó Cuinn, the founder and current director of the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN). GLAN is an independent organization founded in 2016, which identifies and pursues legal action to tackle power actors involved in serious human rights violations and environmental harms.
The conversation first introduces the topic of social change lawyering, strategic human rights litigation and transnational public interest lawyering. The speakers then dive into the work of GLAN and discuss three different cases which the organization has recently taken on in the areas of climate change, supply chains and environmental crime.
During the conversation, we referenced a number of cases. You can read more about the various topics in the links below:
#1 The Youth4ClimateJustice case before the European Court of Human Rights: https://www.glanlaw.org/youth4climatejustice
#2 The Uyghur Cotton Case before the UK Court of Appeal:
https://www.glanlaw.org/uyghur-forced-labour
#3 Mining and Environmental Crime – The London Metal Exchange Case
https://www.glanlaw.org/dirty-metals
For more information on GLAN’s work and opportunities for engagement or support, see also GLAN’s website: https://www.glanlaw.org/
The podcast was produced by Alessandra Cao, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).
The Human Rights Podcast
On this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Alessandra Cao speaks with Dr Niamh Keady-Tabbal about the topic of “Drift-backs” in the Aegean, the role of Frontex, and the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) failure to hold Greece accountable for serious human rights violations committed in the Aegean during systematic push-back operations.
The conversation first introduces the topic of push-backs at the external borders of the EU, the relatively new phenomenon of “drift-backs” in the Aegean Sea and their relation to European “migration management” strategies as well as human rights concerns arising from these practices. The speakers then dive into the recent European Court of Human Rights decision in the case of GRJ v Greece – a push-back case decided in January 2025, in which Niamh was closely involved – to discuss the evidentiary difficulties arising for applicants in push-back cases, and evaluate the way in which the ECtHR – despite explicitly acknowledging them – has failed to adequately accommodate these difficulties.
During the conversation, we referenced a number of cases and academic works. You can read more about the various topics in the links below:
#1 Journal Article “Weaponising Rescue: Law and the Materiality of Migration Management in the Aegean” by Niamh Keady-Tabbal and Itamar Mann (Leiden Journal of International Law, 2023): access
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/leiden-journal-of-international-law/article/weaponizing-rescue-law-and-the-materiality-of-migration-management-in-the-aegean/068B225CF16390CCBA5FFD10FC3CEF8C?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark
#2 Blog Post “Tents at Sea: How Greek Officials Use Rescue Equipment for Illegal Deportations” (Just Security, 2020): access https://www.justsecurity.org/70309/tents-at-sea-how-greek-officials-use-rescue-equipment-for-illegal-deportations/
#3 Forensic Architecture study about the practice of “drift-backs”: access https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/drift-backs-in-the-aegean-sea
#4 Journal Article “The Enforced Disappearance of Migrants” by Valentina Azariva, Amanda Danson Brown, and Itamar Mann (Boston University International Law Journal, 2022): access https://www.bu.edu/ilj/files/2022/08/Vol.-40.1-Azarova-et-al.-online-unprinted.pdf
#5 European Court of Human Rights Judgment in GRJ v Greece: access the original judgment in French , and the official summary in English
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-243431%22]}
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press?i=003-8124872-11378023
#6 European Court of Human Rights Judgment in ARE v Greece: access the original judgment in French , and the official summary in English
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-238636%22]}
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press#{%22itemid%22:[%22003-8124877-11378031%22]}
The podcast was produced by Alessandra Cao, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro - FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).
