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.
Open Society European Policy Institute v. Bulgaria
The Open Society Foundations' collective complaint alleges that the Bulgarian government violated the European Social Charter for failing to prioritize persons over 65 years old and individuals with underlying conditions in its domestic COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
German Criminal Investigation into Chemical Weapons Attacks in Syria
The Justice Initiative has joined with Syrian groups in filing the first criminal complaint against Syrian government officials for the 2013 and 2017 chemical weapons attacks in Ghouta and Khan Shaykhun. The complaint was filed before the Office of the German Federal Prosecutor.
Federal Prosecutor's Office v. Anwar R.
Anwar R., a former Syrian colonel who led a unit of Syria's General Intelligence Directorate, has been accused of supervising the “systematic and brutal torture” of more than 4,000 prisoners in a detention center known as Al Khatib, or Branch 251, resulting in the deaths of at least 58 people.
Last update: December 03, 2019Y, T & A v. Berlin Education Authority
The Justice Initiative supported the development of a case brought by three pupils of migrant background challenging the discriminatory treatment growing out of educational reforms adopted by Berlin.
Last update: January 26, 2015Nikolova v. CEZ Electricity
Bulgarian electricity companies have been locating meters at the tops of high poles in “Roma districts,” preventing residents from reading and checking them; elsewhere they are at head-height and easily accessible.
Last update: July 11, 2014German Headscarves Ban
In 2006, several regional governments in Germany adopted laws supposedly to maintain neutrality and peace in the school, but which amount to discrimination against Muslim teachers on grounds of religion.
Last update: March 05, 2012Kasabova v. Bulgaria
The case, involving a journalist found liable for criminal libel, raised questions about the burden of proof and liability standards that ought to apply in criminal defamation proceedings.
Last update: April 19, 2011Fadia v. Diakonisches Werk Hamburg
This case is about a woman in Germany whose job application was rejected because she refused to convert to Christianity. She challenged the rejection as religious discrimination.
Last update: June 01, 2009