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.
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, 2019TRIAL v. Argor-Heraeus S.A.
This complaint sought to initiate an official investigation by Swiss federal prosecutors into allegations that a Swiss gold refinery processed several tons of goal pillaged from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Last update: June 19, 2017Expelled Dominicans and Haitians v. Dominican Republic
Mass expulsions from the Dominican Republic of people of Haitian descent breached the duty to prevent statelessness.
Last update: October 22, 2014Diario Militar Case
In 1999, a leaked Guatemalan government death squad diary revealed details about killings conducted by the military regime. Families of some of the victims are now bringing a case to the Inter-American Court.
Last update: August 27, 2012Gomes Lund v. Brazil
The families of people who disappeared after challenging Brazil's military dictatorship are trying to expose the truth about what happened to their relatives, but have been prevented from doing so by amnesty laws.
Last update: December 01, 2010Anyaele v. Taylor
A case challenging the asylum granted by Nigeria to former Liberian president Charles Taylor.
Last update: April 01, 2006