Podcasts
Épisode 2 Or la loi podcast avec Pascale Fournier
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In this second episode of Or, la loi podcast, Cindy and Eva-Marie, leaders of the Observatory on Human Rights at the UN at the University of Ottawa, sit down with Pascale Fournier, founding director of the Observatoire and Professor at the University of Ottawa.
In this conversation, Pascale Fournier reflects on the creation of the Observatoire, its mission and vision, and the importance of raising awareness about human rights and bringing the law closer to people’s lived realities. The conversation also explores leadership, student engagement, and the ways in which law can become a meaningful tool for social change.
🎧 Welcome to Or, la loi podcast — a space to explore the law differently, reflect on human rights, and give a voice to those who help bring them to life.
Épisode 1 - Le Sommet québécois sur l'État de droit
In this first episode of Therefore, The Law Podcast, Cindy and Eva-Marie, leaders of the Observatory on Human Rights at the UN of Ottawa University, take you behind the scenes of the first day of the Quebec Summit on the Rule of Law, an important event organized by the Barreau du Québec.
Through their reflections and discussions, they explore the key moments, ideas, and conversations that marked the day — and share what it meant to experience such an inspiring event as emerging legal professionals committed to human rights and access to justice.
More than a recap, this episode offers a personal perspective on the importance of the rule of law, the role of the legal profession, and the responsibility of future lawyers to contribute to a more just and accessible society.
Welcome to Therefore, The Law Podcast — where law meets people, rights, and real-world issues.
L'OBSERVATOIRE DES DROITS HUMAINS À L'ONU
(with FTX Radio)
Discover this episode of FTX Radio, featuring Professor Pascale Fournier, Founding Director of the Observatory on Human Rights at the United Nations, as she discusses the Observatory’s mission, vision, and the initiatives that drive its work.
Throughout the conversation, Professor Fournier reflects on the creation of the Observatory and its commitment to bridging academia, international institutions, and realities on the ground. She also explores the various ways in which the Observatory seeks to advance the promotion and protection of human rights, including through research, legal advocacy, partnerships, and projects that provide students with meaningful opportunities to engage with contemporary human rights issues.
The episode offers a unique glimpse into the Observatory’s work, its interdisciplinary and international approach, and the central role it gives to the next generation and student engagement. The conversation provides a deeper understanding of the vision behind the Observatory and the ambition that guides its projects: to create spaces for dialogue, reflection, and action on pressing human rights issues, both in Canada and internationally.
IDENTITY, JUSTICE & INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP (with Mélanie Vincent)
How do you turn a dream into a collective movement?
How do identity, culture, and law come together to create real impact?
In this episode of Sans Maître, in collaboration with the Observatory of Human Rights at the UN, Legal Sensus welcomes Mélanie Vincent, a member of the Wendat Nation, entrepreneur, founder of the KWE! – Meeting Indigenous Peoples Festival, and trainer at the First Nations Executive Education School.
From her beginnings in law to her leadership in governance and human rights, Mélanie has built a path where culture, entrepreneurship, and social justice intersect.
With her, we dive into:
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The challenges and victories behind creating a festival that unites 11 Nations and 20,000 visitors.
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The uniqueness of Indigenous leadership — and why so many women are its bearers.
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The role of law: a tool for empowerment or an instrument of control?
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Urgent issues: self-determination, land, social justice… and what Canada still has to learn.
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Her perspective on the international stage — from the UN to class actions — and the concrete hopes that remain.
A rich, sometimes striking, always honest conversation — to better understand, question, and reinvent the bridges between Indigenous Peoples and Quebec society.
EDUCATE TO TRANSFORM (with Fabrice Vil)
Can we talk about crime without talking about ecosystems, inequality, and public health?
Is success measured by titles… or by the quality of the relationships we build?
In this episode of Sans Maître, Fabrice Vil — lawyer by training, social entrepreneur, founder of Pour 3 Points, columnist (Le Devoir, La Presse), author of Bon garçon, and new father — joins Charles-Antoine Hallé for an honest conversation about the meaning of success, the role of law, and what truly transforms lives.
We talk about:
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Redefining success: shifting from an individualistic model toward collective contribution and solidarity.
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Justice and youth: understanding violence and crime as public health issues, not just matters of public safety.
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Pour 3 Points: from basketball to coaching as a way to equip young people — and the lessons learned from a major strategic shift.
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Leaving legal practice (2013) for social engagement: doubts, a failed competition… and then the real beginning.
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Fatherhood: disrupted schedules, renewed purpose — and the art of choosing the depth of relationships over their quantity.
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Writing: from column writing to literature with Bon garçon — and what writing allows us to heal.
Bonus: Sega Genesis, NBA Jam & NHL 95 🎮
A human, unpretentious conversation where law meets real life: schools, neighbourhoods, Cité des Prairies, sneakers, and… baby bottles.
UNDERSTANDING WAR FROM WITHIN
(with Agnes Gruda)
How do you go from Warsaw to Trois-Rivières, and then from conflict zones to the pages of a novel?
How do you tell the story of war without losing yourself?
In this episode of Sans Maître, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Rights Observatory, we welcome Agnès Gruda — international journalist for over 30 years at La Presse, author, and witness to the major crises of our time.
From Egypt at the moment of Mubarak’s fall to the Gaza Strip under bombardment, through Libya in the midst of revolution and the torn-apart Balkans, Agnès has covered the conflicts that have shaped our world. With her, we dive into:
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What being on the ground brings that an office never can — and those unlikely conversations with antisemitic fixers who are fans of Bob Dylan.
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The sound of revolution: when an entire city celebrates the fall of a dictator.
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Her first novel, Ça finit quand, toujours? — a family saga about exile and its transformations.
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The question that haunts the book: could I have voted for Trump in another life?
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Gaza today: why she speaks of genocide, and what it means to her as a Jew whose family perished in Treblinka.
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“Never again” — but for whom? For Jews only, or for no one?
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The state of international law, the ICC, and why she remains (despite everything) optimistic.
A deep, lucid, and sometimes moving conversation — about field journalism, exile, memory, and hope.