Just Access e.V.

01/09/2026

🇸🇩 What does justice look like in a country devastated by war?

In our latest episode of the Just Access Podcast, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Mossaad Mohamed Ali, human rights lawyer and Executive Director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS).

Mossaad has spent decades working to document human rights violations and fight impunity in Sudan. He shares his personal journey into human rights work, shaped by the atrocities he witnessed in Darfur, and explains how ACJPS works to document international crimes, pursue strategic litigation, and advocate for victims and survivors at national, regional, and international levels.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:
🔹 The devastating human rights situation in Sudan since the outbreak of war in 2023
🔹 Torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, sexual and gender-based violence, and child recruitment
🔹 The role of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in addressing human rights violations
🔹 The joint UPR submission by ACJPS and Just Access
🔹 Why documenting violations today is essential for future accountability
🔹 What individuals and organizations can do to support justice and human rights in Sudan

For Mossaad, the most urgent priority is clear: the war must end. But ending the conflict must also be followed by accountability for those responsible for atrocities.

👉 Listen to the episode: https://shows.acast.com/just-access/episodes/collaborating-with-the-african-centre-for-justice-and-peace

26/08/2026

What happens when a military force stops following orders from its own government? Can a State escape responsibility by claiming that its armed forces have become “ungovernable”?

In our latest blog, Luca Brocca, Head of Legal Research at Just Access, examines the legal responsibility of States for the conduct of their military organs — and applies the rules of international law to the July 2026 strikes on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The analysis explores:

⚖️ When the conduct of a military organ is attributable to the State
🚢 The protection owed to civilian vessels in neutral waters
📜 Why arguments based on blockade, contraband, warnings and necessity may not hold
👥 And, ultimately, what is owed to the people affected when international law is violated

A powerful reminder that a State cannot simply distance itself from unlawful acts committed by the armed forces it is responsible for.

👉 Read the full analysis: https://just-access.de/who-is-responsible-when-an-army-stops-taking-orders/

Imagine an army that fires cruise missiles its own government did not authorise, and whose own diplomats learn of the strike from the news. Is…

17/08/2026

New podcast episode 🎙️
What is Just Access' Sudan Project?

In the latest episode of the Just Access Podcast, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with human rights and international criminal law practitioner Magee about Just Access’s work documenting violations committed against survivors of abuses by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

They discuss:
• Why documenting underrepresented survivor experiences matters
• How individual testimonies can contribute to accountability and strategic litigation
• The protection needs of survivors who have fled Sudan
• The vital role of Sudan’s grassroots Emergency Response Rooms
• Why these community-led networks should have a voice in future peace processes
• How documentation today can create opportunities for justice tomorrow

As Alexa explains, accountability is a long game—but building a credible record of violations now can help ensure that opportunities for justice are not lost when they arise.

Listen to the episode:
🔗https://shows.acast.com/6666be8ab6f3d900125875e8

Learn more about the work:
🔗 https://just-access.de/sudan-project

And if you are interested in collaborating or supporting this work, Just Access welcomes opportunities to get involved.

17/08/2026

New podcast episode 🎙️
What is Just Access' Sudan Project?

In the latest episode of the Just Access Podcast, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with human rights and international criminal law practitioner Alexa Magee about Just Access’s work documenting violations committed against survivors of abuses by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

They discuss:
• Why documenting underrepresented survivor experiences matters
• How individual testimonies can contribute to accountability and strategic litigation
• The protection needs of survivors who have fled Sudan
• The vital role of Sudan’s grassroots Emergency Response Rooms
• Why these community-led networks should have a voice in future peace processes
• How documentation today can create opportunities for justice tomorrow

As Alexa explains, accountability is a long game—but building a credible record of violations now can help ensure that opportunities for justice are not lost when they arise.

Listen to the episode:
🔗https://shows.acast.com/6666be8ab6f3d900125875e8

Learn more about the work:
🔗 https://just-access.de/sudan-project

And if you are interested in collaborating or supporting this work, Just Access welcomes opportunities to get involved.

12/08/2026

How do narratives fuel violence against civilians?

In Part I of our latest blog, our legal intern Helena Jost examines Sudan’s “narrative-to-reprisal pipeline” — how weaponised narratives, disinformation and hate speech can turn entire civilian communities into targets and create a pretext for collective punishment.

Drawing on international humanitarian law, she explores why these narratives matter and how they contribute to the devastating suffering of Sudan’s civilian population.

Read Part I and stay tuned for Part II, where we look at the persistent impunity surrounding these violations and what can be done about it.

👉 https://just-access.de/the-narrative-to-reprisal-pipeline-and-social-incubators-how-controlling-the-narrative-feeds-collective-punishment-against-civilian-populations-part-i/

10/08/2026

What happens when the people tasked with upholding global justice become the ones under attack? ⚖️🌍

👉 The International Criminal Court is facing unprecedented political pressure, from severe sanctions to criminal charges levied against judges and prosecutors just for doing their jobs. But this isn’t just about the court. It’s a direct threat to the global rule of law and the human rights defenders who rely on it.

Swipe through to see how ICC judges are standing firm against political intimidation, and why defending judicial independence matters for us all. 📲

Want the full story? Dive deeper into the political context, the impact on global justice, and what member states must do to protect the court.

🔗 Read the full blog post at the link in our bio, visit our website, or scan the QR code on the final slide!

05/08/2026

🌍 What does it take to build sustainable peace after conflict?

In the latest episode of the Just Access Podcast, we continue our conversation with Paula Vargas, Associate at the Institute for Integrated Transitions - IFIT in Bogotá, where she leads the organisation’s transitional justice work in Colombia and Latin America.

Paula shares insights from her work supporting societies navigating transitions from conflict to peace, exploring how international expertise can strengthen local efforts without replacing local knowledge and leadership.

We also discuss the role of NGOs in peacebuilding, the importance of dialogue among equals, and IFIT’s work at the intersection of international law, accountability, and practical peace implementation.

🎧 Listen to the episode:

https://shows.acast.com/6666be8ab6f3d900125875e8

04/08/2026

Whistleblowers play a vital role in protecting the public interest. But is the EU legal framework doing enough to protect them?

The EU Whistleblower Directive was a landmark achievement, establishing minimum standards for the protection of individuals who report breaches of EU law. Yet several years after its adoption, important questions remain about its effectiveness, implementation, and future development. The European Commission's own assessment has identified shortcomings in national transposition and protection mechanisms, raising questions about whether further reforms may be needed.

In the first part of our new blog series, Flóra Merész examines the origins, objectives, and implementation of the Directive and explores whether the current framework is sufficient to safeguard those who expose wrongdoing and contribute to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.

📖 Read the article here:

https://just-access.de/the-eu-whistleblower-directive-does-it-need-a-revision-part-i/

Whistleblowers perform an indispensable function within democracies, promoting a culture of accountability and integrity. They report or disclose information about acts and omissions that they…

28/07/2026

As the International Criminal Court - ICC faces one of the most consequential moments in its history, the debate must extend beyond one individual or one investigation. What is ultimately at stake is the independence, credibility, and resilience of the international justice system.

In our latest blog, our Legal Fellow Bertina Lou reflects on the challenges confronting the ICC, the responsibility of States Parties to uphold the Court's mandate, and why safeguarding judicial independence is essential to ensuring accountability for atrocity crimes and justice for victims and survivors.

At a time of increasing geopolitical pressure and growing attacks on international institutions, principled support for the rule of law has never been more important.

Read the full article and join the conversation:
🔗 https://just-access.de/judicial-independence-at-the-international-criminal-court-disruptive-times-the-need-for-states-parties-support-and-an-international-system-at-stake/

What role should States Parties play in protecting the independence and legitimacy of the ICC while ensuring accountability within the institution itself?

We'd love to hear your thoughts.



The International Criminal Court (ICC) Bar Association held a Judicial Independence Event on the 1st of May, 2026. The event hosted three ICC judges,…

23/07/2026

What does it really take to build peace after decades of conflict?

In the latest episode of the Just Access Podcast, we speak with Paula Vargas, Associate at the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), where she leads work on transitional justice in Colombia and Latin America.

Paula shares her inspiring journey into human rights and explains why access to justice is not just about courts—it's about creating the conditions for lasting peace. Drawing on her experience working on the implementation of Colombia's peace agreement, she offers a candid look at the challenges of balancing justice, accountability, and reconciliation.

In this episode, we explore:

🔹 Why access to justice is essential for sustainable peace
🔹 How international law can influence change on the ground
🔹 The realities of implementing transitional justice in Colombia
🔹 What it means to work for change from within state institutions
🔹 Why accountability must be fair, practical, and people-centred

This is an honest and insightful conversation about conflict, peacebuilding, and the difficult work of turning ambitious ideals into reality.

🎧 Listen now: https://shows.acast.com/just-access/episodes/what-is-it-like-to-work-on-the-colombia-peace-process

If you enjoy the episode, please like, share, and follow the Just Access Podcast to help us bring more conversations on human rights and access to justice to a wider audience.