Let’s Talk Human Rights

About Let’s Talk Human Rights

Let’s Talk Human Rights – A podcast investigating the current state of human rights in Africa. Even in democratic constitutional states, human rights violations occur on a regular basis. However, emerging and developing countries, like most African countries, are particularly affected. This podcast series takes us on a journey through sub-Saharan Africa and together, we will meet witnesses from East, West and Southern Africa. These witnesses will share their current experiences, looking specifically at human rights violations with regards to education, women and children rights, racism, xenophobia, LGBT+ rights and press freedom, to name a few. A special thank you goes to the Ugandan musician, opposition leader and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as “Bobi Wine”, who generously made his song "Situka!" available to our podcast, –“Let’s Talk Human Rights”. Proudly brought to you by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in sub-Saharan Africa.

Publisher

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Africa

Category

government · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Sept 2020

Latest episode

26 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

28 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Nov 2025

   S06.E03 - Centering Human Rights in Business - The Botswana Story

   This episode explores the central role of Botswana’s diamond industry in the country’s economic success and its reputation for responsible, transparent mining. Diamonds remain Botswana’s dominant export, generating around 80% of export revenue and supporting national development through jobs, infrastructure investment, and environmental stewardship. We also look at the growing importance of ESG – particularly the ‘social’ element – in global business, investment, and supply chains. With human rights due diligence now embedded in European sustainability frameworks, the extractive sector faces increasing expectations for ethical practice, transparency, and community protection. The conversation examines how these issues connect to global markets, including Germany’s diamond-related technology sector and the challenges currently facing the German automotive industry. We also discuss concerns raised by African human rights bodies about extractive industries across the continent, where governance gaps, environmental damage, and community impacts remain pressing issues. Drawing on research by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, we highlight how Botswana’s governance framework, while comparatively strong, still has room to improve in areas such as transparency, human rights, and regional cooperation.

2. 

   10 Sept 2025

   S06.E02 - Getting it Right - Unchained! Ghana’s Prison and Justice System

   Released exactly one month after Prison Awareness Day, this episode takes you inside Ghana’s criminal justice system, where justice delayed often means justice denied. Host Masechaba Mdaka journeys through Accra, uncovering the lived realities behind statistics: people held on remand for years without trial, families torn apart by incarceration, and prisoners who find themselves caught in a system that moves painfully slowly. You’ll hear from former inmates, families of the incarcerated, and advocates like the POS Foundation, who are pioneering prison reform through initiatives such as the “Justice for All” programme and in-prison paralegal training. We also spotlight Ghana’s historic decision to abolish the death penalty for ordinary crimes, making it part of a growing wave across Africa, and the human rights defenders who made this possible, including Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu and Amnesty International Ghana’s Genevieve Partington. This episode confronts difficult questions: How do we balance crime control with due process? Can prisons truly rehabilitate? And what happens to dignity and justice when systems fail?

3. 

   30 Apr 2025

   S06.E01 - Getting it Right: Child Marriage Act in Malawi

   Host Masechaba Mdaka examines Malawi's efforts to end child marriage by amending its constitution and raising the legal age of a child to 18, highlighting the impact on young women and girls in this interview episode.

Who has been a guest on Let’s Talk Human Rights

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Girma Gaddisa Tufa
• Dr Marshet Tadesa Tessema
• Marcella Samba Sesay
• Bernadette Abioseh French
• Aaron Weah

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

71

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

Contact Let’s Talk Human Rights

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Let’s Talk Human Rights