In the first episode of our two-part series on human rights, we explore the foundations of human rights, their historical development, and their current state in a rapidly changing world. What do human rights mean today, and how effectively do existing systems protect those most vulnerable to discrimination, exclusion, and injustice?

The podcast brings together Professor Reetta Toivanen, Professor of Sustainability Science at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), and Postdoctoral Researcher Tuija Kasa from the Faculty of Education at the University of Helsinki, whose work engages deeply with human rights from legal, educational, and societal perspectives.

Together, they reflect on the origins of human rights, assess global developments and setbacks, and examine how well current frameworks respond to the realities faced by migrants, minorities, and other marginalized groups. The discussion addresses the uneven protection of human rights across contexts, the gaps between legal commitments and lived realities, and the pressures human rights face amid growing inequality and democratic backsliding. The episode also considers whether existing human rights frameworks are sufficient, or whether broader approaches are needed to address structural injustices.

Host: Max Tallberg

Global Visions is a non profit association based in Helsinki, Finland, with the purpose of bringing people and organisations together to develop ideas aimed at building a better world.

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