Who doesn't like human rights?

It's in the category of unequivocal good thing, along with Ferreira Roche, sunny days and the drum bit from In the Air Tonight.

But whose job is it to enforce human rights? And if Western governments, along with

their allies like Israel, are increasingly just throwing their weight around to make themselves

exempt from the human rights framework, is it just a disciplining tool against countries which

happen to be poorer and less powerful? I'm joined by Kenneth Roth, former director of

Human Rights Watch and author of a new memoir called Writing Wrongs to see what he makes of the

idea that the era of human rights and international law might be drawing to a close. He spent over

30 years trying to advance and expand the cause of human rights at the very highest level.

His work has taken him from Libyan prisons all the way to Guantanamo Bay.

We talk about what really drives Donald Trump, China's approach to governance,

and whether the success of liberation struggles has ever been compatible with frameworks like the Geneva Convention.

I hope you enjoy the interview.

Kenneth Roth, welcome to you downstream.

My pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.

It's such a privilege to have you with us today.

Your book Writing Wrongs, three decades leading Human Rights Watch, is out now, am I right?

It is indeed, yes.

Available at all disreputable booksellers.

What was it about your upbringing or your early life that made you want to go into human

rights law?

Because some people just go, I want to make loads of money and that's it.

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