Litigation
Justice Initiative lawyers have represented scores of individuals and groups before domestic and international human rights courts and tribunals around the world. These cases seek not only to vindicate individual claims, but to establish and strengthen the law’s protection for all.
Zhao v. Netherlands
In the UN Human Rights Committee's first ever decision on the right of children to acquire nationality, it determined that by registering a child as “nationality unknown”, Dutch authorities violated his right to international protection and to seek a nationality.
Last update: December 29, 2020Big Brother Watch v. United Kingdom
The European Court of Human Rights held that the UK’s bulk interception regime violated the right to privacy for its lack of sufficient oversight and safeguards.
Last update: June 19, 2017Al-Waheed and Ministry of Defence
This case considers whether the detention of prisoners by UK troops in a non-international conflict should be governed by human rights law, or the laws of war.
Last update: February 07, 2016Pham (previously B2) v. Home Secretary
The UK stripped Pham Minh Quang of his citizenship, claiming he was still a Vietnamese citizen and so not stateless. He appealed to the Supreme Court, but his appeal was rejected.
Last update: March 23, 2015Home Secretary v. Al-Jedda
The UK government stripped Al-Jedda of his citizenship, arguing he could re-apply for Iraqi citizenship and was not stateless. The UK Supreme Court found that indeed he was left stateless.
Last update: October 28, 2013MGN Ltd v. United Kingdom
This case before the European Court of Human Rights involves the massive costs of libel suits, which have a chilling effect on NGOs and small publishers by discouraging them from publishing important stories.
Last update: January 18, 2011Sanoma Uitgevers v. the Netherlands
When an editor refused to hand over photos taken by a journalist, Dutch police tried to close the magazine down. The Open Society Justice Initiative argued that the police had violated freedom of expression.
Last update: September 14, 2010Dutch Caribbean Consultative Body v. Data Protection Authority
This case challenges the Dutch government’s attempt to create a database of all youths of Antillean descent.
Last update: March 11, 2009