Newsroom
The Open Society Justice Initiative pursues strategic litigation and engages in policy advocacy in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Read our News Releases and Advocacy Updates on our work.
UNESCO Suspends Dictator Prize After Global Protest
The Open Society Justice Initiative and its partners welcomed UNESCO’s decision today to suspend, indefinitely, the prize funded by and named after President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea.
October 21, 2010Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa Joins Latin American Writers in Condemning UNESCO-Obiang Prize
Prominent Latin American writers have called on UNESCO to cancel its award named for Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang.
October 07, 2010UNESCO: Cancel Dictator Prize
UNESCO should use this month’s executive board meeting to cancel its prize named after and funded by Teodoro Obiang, the president of Equatorial Guinea, said the Open Society Justice Initiative and partner groups today.
October 05, 2010UNESCO Fails to Investigate Obiang Prize Money
UNESCO has no process for screening funds from prize donors to prevent money laundering, the Open Society Justice Initiative and partner groups discovered after filing a complaint.
September 28, 2010Khmer Rouge Indictments Mark Progress, Yet Tribunal's Future Uncertain
The indictment today of four former senior Khmer Rouge leaders is a major development in the struggle for justice in Cambodia. However, the court’s ultimate success is far from assured.
September 16, 2010UNESCO: Pull Obiang Prize
The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization should cancel the Obiang Prize at its next session in October 2010, said the Open Society Justice Initiative and 95 partner groups in a letter sent to UNESCO executive board members.
August 12, 2010UNESCO: "Dictator Prize" Suspension Only a Temporary Fix
UNESCO’s decision today to delay awarding a controversial prize named after and funded by the dictator of Equatorial Guinea is a positive initial step, said the Open Society Institute.
June 15, 2010Statement on UNESCO-Obiang Prize from Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined in calling on UNESCO to cancel the international prize, named for a president whose rule has been marked by corruption and abuse.
June 11, 2010