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.
Gomes 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, 2010Zhovtis v. Kazakhstan
This case concerns a human rights defender imprisoned in Kazakhstan. He faced a rushed and unfair trial after being involved in a fatal traffic accident.
Last update: November 09, 2010Bubon v. Russia
This case concerned the right of access to state-held information of public interest.
Last update: November 02, 2010Ouardiri v. Switzerland
This case is about a Swiss ban on the construction of minarets that clearly discriminates against Muslims.
Last update: October 22, 2010Omerovic and Others v. Italy
In 2008 Italy introduced emergency legislation that applied only to Roma. The Omerovic family brought a legal action with nine other claimants to challenge this discriminatory treatment.
Last update: September 17, 2010Sanoma 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, 2010Gaza Inquiry
The UN Human Rights Council appointed a Committee of Experts to resolve issues surrounding investigations into the 2008–2009 Gaza conflict.
Last update: September 01, 2010Bueno v. Dominican Republic
This case is about statelessness in the Dominican Republic. It focuses on a Dominican man who was denied identity documents because he was of Haitian descent.
Last update: June 01, 2010