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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.
Trial of Austrian Agents for Harboring Alleged Syrian War Criminal to Shed Light on Victims’ Suffering, say Human Rights Groups
The Center for Enforcement of Human Rights International (CEHRI) and the Justice Initiative welcome the start of a trial against officials from Austria’s civilian security-intelligence agency accused of executing a plan to conceal a former senior Syrian official suspected of crimes against humanity in Austria.
April 14, 2023Human Rights Groups Call on Belgium to Open Investigation into Saudi Crown Prince for Crimes against Humanity
The Open Society Justice Initiative welcomes the support of DAWN, MENA Rights Group, and the Freedom Initiative for a criminal complaint it filed in Belgium against Saudi Arabia for crimes against humanity.
January 10, 2023Egypt Must Answer for Unlawful Detention of Ramy Shaath, Say NGOs behind New Complaint
On behalf of activist and former political prisoner Ramy Shaath and his wife Céline Lebrun-Shaath, four human rights groups have filed a complaint against Egypt before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
December 12, 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, 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, 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