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.
Elections in Africa during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) has submitted a request seeking guidance from the African Court on Human and People’s Rights for states and regional institutions on how to hold elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vagrancy laws of state parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
The Pan-African Lawyers Union has requested an opinion from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on whether vagrancy laws contravene the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Children’s Charter, and the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of women.
Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law et al v. Sierra Leone
Two health-workers involved in efforts to combat the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, who themselves contracted and survived the virus, are seeking redress for deaths and damages caused by the corrupt diversion of million of international emergency relief funds.
Anudo v. United Republic of Tanzania
Anudo Ochieng Anudo was forced to live in “no-man’s land” on the border between Tanzania and Kenya, as neither country recognized him as a citizen.
Last update: June 06, 2017Alade v. the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Sikiru Alade spent almost a decade in pretrial detention. His case exposes a system in which police routinely charge suspects in order to have them detained, but make no effort to investigate or prosecute the case.
Last update: July 07, 2011Deyda Hydara Jr. and Others v. The Gambia
The Open Society Justice Initiative is representing the family of Deyda Hydara, a Gambian journalist killed in 2004. The case calls for a full investigation and seeks compensation for the family.
Last update: April 01, 2011The Prosecutor v. Nahimana et al.
The Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) convicted the accused of incitement to commit genocide, but in so doing blurred the distinction between hate speech and international crimes.
Last update: November 28, 2007