Making the Law Work for Everyone
The Open Society Justice Initiative uses the law to promote and defend justice and human rights.
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Prisons and Jails Should be Prioritized for the Coronavirus Vaccine
Under international law, vaccinating prison populations against COVID-19 is an obligation that falls to the government—and because they are particularly at risk, incarcerated persons should be among the first groups to be vaccinated.
How a 230-Year-Old Law Could Hold U.S. Corporations Accountable for Child Slavery Abroad
A case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court could decide whether children formerly held as slaves can hold U.S. corporations accountable for human rights violations perpetrated abroad.
The OPCW Provides the Next Opening for States to Advance Accountability for Atrocities in Syria
The next OPCW Conference of the States Parties provides states a new window of opportunity to give hope to Syrian victims seeking justice.
A New Guide Highlights How to Provide Effective Legal Services Remotely During COVID-19
The guide is a practical resource intended for civil legal service providers around the world, especially rural areas, where in-person meetings have often been challenging, even before the COVID-19 crisis.
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As part of the Open Society Foundations, the Justice Initiative shares its mission of building vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens.
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Since 2003, Justice Initiative lawyers have represented scores of individuals before domestic and international courts, in cases that have sought not only to vindicate individual claims, but to establish and strengthen the law’s protection for all.
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Federal Judge Sides with Human Rights Lawyers over Trump Administration’s ICC Ban
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration not to enforce an executive order that effectively prevented human rights lawyers from collaborating with the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Federal Court Orders U.S. Intelligence Agencies to Explain Withholding of Khashoggi Tape and Report
The court found that official acknowledgements—including President Trump's own statements—prevented the government from refusing to acknowledge that it is withholding records and audio tapes about the slain journalist.
Justice Initiative Welcomes First-Ever Conviction of Syrian Official for Crimes Against Humanity
In the trial of Eyad al-Gharib, a German court has, for the first time, convicted a Syrian official of crimes against humanity for acts perpetrated during the country’s decade long civil conflict.