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.
Class Action Lawsuit against French Government for Ethnic Profiling by Police
The Justice Initiative, along with partner NGOs, filed the first class action lawsuit in France to end ethnic profiling by police, who disproportionately target people based on their skin color or presumed ethnic origin.
Nubian Rights Forum et al. v. the Honourable Attorney General of Kenya et al. (“NIIMS case”)
The Nubian Rights Forum and the Kenya Human Rights Commission have appealed a Kenyan High Court decision on the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) (or "Huduma Namba"), a national identity card system that would exclude millions of Kenyan residents and give the government all-encompassing surveillance powers.
Zeshan Muhammad v. Spain
Ethnic profiling by law enforcement officers continues to be a persistent and pervasive practice throughout Spain, particularly in the context of immigration control.
Last update: July 31, 2014Seydi and others v. France
Racial profiling by the police is pervasive in France. This case argues that the application of Article 78-2 of the French Criminal Procedure Code violated numerous fundamental rights and freedoms.
Last update: October 04, 2013S.A.S. v France
In October 2010, France enacted a law banning the wearing of any clothing which fully covers the face in any public space. In effect the law is intended to regulate the burqa and niqab.
Last update: April 23, 2013Nubian Community in Kenya v. Kenya
Africa's human rights tribunal found that members of Kenya's Nubian community face arbitrary procedures that restrict their access to vital national identity documents.
Last update: May 17, 2010Williams v. Spain
With Women’s Link Worldwide and SOS-Racismo Madrid, the Open Society Justice Initiative filed a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on behalf of Rosalind Williams regarding a case of racial profiling by a Spanish police officer.
Last update: August 12, 2009