Episode 7: The Case Against Israel

South Africa's Genocide Suit at the World Court

Last month the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and protect the human rights of Gazans. Almost everything about the case has generated controversy, from South Africa’s invocation of the Genocide Convention to the court’s decision not to order a ceasefire.

In this episode of None Of The Above, the Institute for Global Affairs’ Mark Hannah sits down with Kenneth Roth, who was executive director of Human Rights Watch for more than 30 years, and Dr. Mia Swart, an expert in international law, transitional justice, and human rights law. They share their perspectives on this landmark case, the role of South Africa and the United States in upholding international law, and the challenges of enforcement.

Kenneth Roth is an American attorney, human rights activist, and writer. He was the executive director of Human Rights Watch from 1993 to 2022. He is now a visiting professor at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Roth is currently writing a book, Righting Wrongs, to be published by Knopf, about the strategies used by Human Rights Watch to defend human rights.

Mia Swart is a Visiting Professor at the Wits Law School in Johannesburg. She writes on international crimes, transitional justice, and human rights. She previously worked as a producer at Al Jazeera Media Network and as Professor at the University of Johannesburg. She has consulted for UNDP in Palestine and Amnesty International in Southern Africa. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the African Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law. Her latest book 'On Bonifratrow Street: How a Boy from Lwow escaped the Nazis' appears in April through Ibidem Press.

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