Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI)

What’s the future of overseas development aid? That’s the timely question put to our guest Dr. Patrick Walsh of University College Dublin & #SDGAcademy on our podcast this month. Dr Patrick Paul Walsh is currently on secondment to the #unsdsn, where he serves as Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy. With donor development aid down over 7% in 2024 and the dismantling of USAID dominating headlines, Dr. Walsh reflects on this changing position and offers hope of potential new models of finance for those who need it the most. However, he also questions why there weren’t contingency measures in place for such massive funding withdrawals, asking what happens when projects offering life-saving medicines or shelter suddenly shut down overnight. But this episode isn’t just about what’s broken, it’s about what’s next. Should richer states work with intergovernmental banks, acting as guarantors for emerging economies? This is one alternative way of financing that Dr. Walsh talks about. He also talks about insurance companies undertaking risk modelling. “The bottom line is,” he says, “the money would be there.” Dr. Walsh believes, firmly, in the continued working towards sustainable development goals in helping to end poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality, spur economic growth, all while tackling climate change. He says the backbone for this is multilateralism, urging countries, like Ireland, to double down on support for a rules-based international order, especially as global tensions rise. Operating outside of it, he warns, “would be very, very dangerous.” Once again, many thanks to IrishAid for its continued support. 🎧 You can listen in full by clicking the link ➡️ http://bit.ly/44Ju2Qb #IRLI #HorsehairWigs #DevelopmentAid #SustainableDevelopment #USAID

Today is #InternationalNelsonMandelaDay! Mandela was the first democratically elected president of post apartheid South Africa, spent 27 years in a prison on Robben Island, for crimes directly related to his anti-apartheid struggle. During that time, prisons were highly punitive, racially segregated and deeply unjust. In 1998, Nelson Mandela's Government introduced an incredibly progressive piece of legislation that aimed to transform the prison system into a correctional services system, one aimed at prisoner reform and deeply rooted in international human rights law. premised on international human rights standards, in particular the right to human dignity. His legacy in prison reform is further exemplified by the UN standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners, which in 2015 were renamed the Nelson Mandela Rules to honour Mandela. In March of this year, Malawi introduced a new Prisons Act. This Act supplanted the Prisons Act 1957, itself a colonial piece of legislation. Unfortunately this Act is still a far cry from the reforms introduced by South African Act, but some advancements have been: the obligation not to keep children in prison cells have been reaffirmed, the right to adequate health care has been articulated and the basis for a parole system has been developed. We commend Malawi's attempt to take strides towards bringing their prison system in line with their constitutional and international human rights obligations, and one day hope it will create a correctional service such as that witnessed in South Africa. 📷 Yousuf Karsh 📷 Young in Prison Project (Malawi) by Kadir van Lohuizen #PrisonReform #InternationalNelsonMandelaDay2025 #HumanRights

🎧 Since launching in 2023, #HorsehairWigs has aimed to shine a light on the people driving progress in international criminal justice and human rights. Now, 27 episodes in, we’ve heard powerful stories from those working on the frontlines - in conflict zones, courtrooms, and communities, all grappling with the realities of justice in today’s world. Highlights from the past six months include: Nikki Reisch (CIEL) Nikki discusses the upcoming ICJ advisory opinion on climate responsibilities, emphasising that obligations go far beyond the Paris Agreement and are grounded in broader international law. Dr. John Reynolds (Maynooth University) A deep dive into state reactions to ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, spotlighting the political pressures and legal challenges surrounding international justice processes. Alia Al Ghussain (Amnesty Tech) An urgent call to centre human rights in tech, with analysis of Meta’s retreat from fact-checking and the harmful impacts of algorithmic content on vulnerable communities. Maria McCloskey (IRLI Executive Director) What does “rule of law” truly mean? Maria breaks it down, covering equality, access to justice, independent judiciaries, and shares how IRLI is embedding these values in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Tigray. Aonghus Kelly (International criminal and human rights lawyer) Aonghus shares his experience of on-the-ground work in Ukraine alongside EU mentors, as well as insights on climate, extractivism, and the strategic use of frozen Russian assets. 🎙️More episodes are on the way, but in the meantime, you can catch up here: bit.ly/4aehUYw A special thanks to IrishAid for their continued support and allowing us to make  #HorsehairWigs happen. #Podcast  #HumanRights  #InternationalJustice  #HorsehairWigs

🇮🇪 Now Online: New Lawyer Abroad Interview As part of our ongoing #LawyerAbroad series, we’re highlighting the work of Irish lawyers making an impact around the world 🌎 In this latest spotlight, we feature Pat de Brún (he/him) an Irish-qualified human rights lawyer and Head of Amnesty International’s #BigTechAccountability Team. Based in London, Pat leads Amnesty’s global work to hold technology companies accountable for human rights harms, from disinformation and targeted surveillance, to incitement to violence and genocide. His team works closely with affected communities and employs a range of strategies, including investigative research, litigation, campaigning, and policy advocacy, to ensure that digital technologies support, rather than undermine, human rights. Pat brings over a decade of experience in human rights research and advocacy, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia and the rights of LGBTIQ people. 🔗  Read the interview in full here: bit.ly/44Jci6h #IrishLawyerAbroad #BigTech #HumanRights #TechAccountability

More updates from the Mobile Courts orientation in Malawi at the end of June ... Many thanks to Undikumbukire Project Zambia for sharing 🇲🇼🇿🇲 https://lnkd.in/dvmAQuR2

Some more pictures from the Zambian judiciary visit to Malawi in late June  🇲🇼🇿🇲 During the visit delegates explored the mobile courts initiative — a key effort to deliver justice closer to correctional facilities and reduce prison congestion. At a Court Users Committee meeting in Lilongwe, Justice Mvula highlighted the value of shared learning across justice institutions and IRLI's Norville Connolly praised Malawi’s model, which is now helping inform Zambia’s own mobile court efforts (with the latest roll-out at the Mwembeshi Correctional Facility in Chilanga, Zambia.) 📷 Bauleni & Bauleni Photography #AccessToJustice #RuleOfLaw #CampCourts #PrisonReform #IRLI #Zambia #Malawi

As part of the ongoing roll-on of the mobile courts pilot scheme across Zambia, last week saw the official launch at the Mwembeshi Correctional Facility in Chilanga, Zambia. During the event, IRLI's Country Director Norville Connolly praised the initiative for its positive impact, particularly through the implementation of plea bargaining, which has helped speed up case resolution and provide much-needed closure for inmates. He highlighted how the mobile courts not only bring certainty and efficiency to the justice process but also reaffirm the commitment to ensuring that even incarcerated individuals receive timely and fair legal outcomes. The pilot scheme began in February 2025, with its inauguration at Lusaka Central Correctional Facility, and in April, it was officially launched at Kamfinsa Correctional Facility in Kitwe. Stay tuned for further updates on the roll-out of this important initiative. Photos of the launch: @ Zambian Digest #RuleOfLaw #AccessToJustice #CampCourts #IRLI #Zambia #Malawi #PrisonReform

At the end of last week, a delegation of judiciary representatives from Zambia visited Malawi for a study visit to observe the operation of Camp Courts, a vital initiative bringing legal services closer to correctional facilities and helping reduce prison congestion across the country. Speaking during a Court Users Committee meeting in Lilongwe, Justice Mvula emphasised the importance of such forums in allowing institutions across the justice chain to deliberate on shared challenges and adopt best practices. He noted that Malawi has drawn valuable lessons from Zambia, which will be integrated into its own system to enhance both efficiency and access to justice. IRLI Zambia Country Director, Norville Connolly, praised Malawi’s implementation of Camp Courts, describing it as a commendable model that has inspired Zambia to strengthen its own mobile court initiatives. He also advocated for regular Court Users Committee meetings as essential spaces to identify systemic gaps and promote people-centred solutions. The meeting was attended by High Court judges, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Malawi Legal Aid Bureau, the Malawi Police Service and IRLI's Norville Connolly and Elena Moustaka. For further info, see news coverage from MBC Digital, who extensively covered the event ⬇️ i #RuleOfLaw #AccessToJustice #CampCourts #IRLI #Zambia #Malawi #PrisonReform

🌍 Now Online! New Partner Series Meet Marko Lehto, who leads the EU-funded Chilungamo (Access to Justice) Programme in Malawi, driving efforts to improve justice for vulnerable groups. With a career spanning Finland to Central America, Marko brings deep experience supporting human rights defenders and marginalised communities. His work today focuses on empowering local partners through innovative grant modalities and technical assistance, building a stronger, more just legal system in Malawi. Read the interview in full 🔗 bit.ly/44ydyKv #RuleOfLaw #HumanRights #AccessToJustice #Malawi #IRLI

On our Horsehair Wigs podcast this month, we speak with Aonghus Kelly, former head of the International Crimes Legal Unit for EU Advisory Mission (EUAM), Ukraine. Aonghus has recently upskilled in getting a Masters in Sustainability and shares a powerful perspective on the global consequences of climate change and the deep inequalities that underpin it. The reality facing many communities, particularly in vulnerable regions, is stark. Their lands are being overtaken by desertification, rains have become unpredictable and in some cases their natural resources are being exploited to feed growing consumer demands. Yet, while these populations bear the brunt of environmental collapse, Aonghus believes that they are being told to stay put and endure the hardship, even as they are connected to a world of prosperity, through the very technology sold to them by richer countries The science is undeniable, showing a planet under threat not just from human suffering but from the rapid loss of biodiversity. In this episode, Aonghus talks about the fundamental injustices of global warming. 🎧 You can listen in full by clicking the link: bit.ly/43uT0SU #Podcasts #InternationalLaw #GlobalJustice #ClimateJustice #HorsehairWigs #IRLI