Newsroom
The Open Society Justice Initiative pursues and supports strategic litigation in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Read our News Releases and Advocacy Updates on our work.
Justice Initiative Urges Poland to Stop Death Penalty Against Guantánamo Prisoner
The Justice Initiative welcomes a resolution urging Poland to seek diplomatic assurances from the U.S. that a Guantánamo prisoner will not face the death penalty after a trial using evidence obtained through torture.
December 09, 2022ECtHR Decision Fails to Hold Italy Accountable for Obligations toward Stateless Persons
The Open Society Justice Initiative condemns a decision from the European Court of Human Rights to declare the application in Dabetić v Italy inadmissible—criticizing it as a missed opportunity for the court to affirm its own case law on protections for stateless persons under the European Convention on Human Rights.
November 18, 2022Discrimination Case Challenging Danish “Ghetto Package” Eviction Plan Referred to Court of Justice of the European Union
Denmark’s Eastern High Court has referred a case against the Danish government to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to consider whether the EU’s legal protection against racial discrimination applies to measures taken under Denmark’s “Ghetto Package” laws.
November 07, 2022Religious Dress Restrictions Are Unlawful, Not “Neutral,” Argues the Justice Initiative
The Justice Initiative, together with co-counsel, the Human Rights Centre at Ghent University, have filed a complaint against Belgium with the UN Human Rights Committee, arguing that religious dress restrictions are discriminatory against Muslim women.
October 21, 2022A Divided ECtHR Fails Victims of Discriminatory ID Checks In Spain, Argue Human Rights Groups
SOS Racisme Catalunya, the Open Society Justice Initiative, and Rights International Spain are deeply concerned about a decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Zeshan Muhammed v Spain which found that there was no violation of the prohibition of discrimination.
October 18, 2022Mohammed Bin Salman’s Appointment to Saudi Prime Minister Should Not Halt Accountability, Argues the Justice Initiative
In response to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s appointment as prime minister, which may grant him sovereign immunity in cases concerning the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Justice Initiative calls on governments to hold the regime accountable.
September 28, 2022Justice Initiative Calls on Belgian Court to Reject Recommendation to Dismiss Case on Saudi Crackdown on Political Dissidents
The complaint is a first-of-its-kind legal filing to address the full scale of crimes committed by the Saudi regime against detractors since Mohammed bin Salman was appointed crown prince in 2017.
June 21, 2022As Denmark Plans Housing for Ukrainian Refugees, Justice Initiative Renews Calls for Abolishment of “Ghetto Package”
New measures to override Denmark’s “Ghetto Package” to allow Ukrainian refugees to move into government-designated “vulnerable housing” areas adds to justifications for abolishing these discriminatory housing laws and ensuring that better access to housing and education for all refugees, argues the Open Society Justice Initiative.
April 29, 2022