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.
Civil Society Groups Urge Egypt to Implement Decision from Africa’s Top Human Rights Body on Torture and Abusive Detention
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and the Open Society Justice Initiative have sent a letter to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to express grave concern about Egypt’s continued non-compliance with the Commission’s decision in El Sharkawi v. Arab Republic of Egypt.
October 20, 2021New Kenya High Court Judgment Sets Important Precedent for Digital ID Privacy Protections and Processes
The Justice Initiative welcomes a Kenyan High Court judgment declaring the data collection and roll-out of biometric Huduma cards for the country’s digital ID system, the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS), unconstitutional.
October 15, 2021A Class Action Lawsuit in France Challenges Racist Police Tactics
Civil society organizations including the Open Society Justice Initiative are seeking systemic changes from France’s Council of State.
July 22, 2021African Court Calls on Nations to Bolster Election Fairness and Transparency During COVID-19
All African Union Member States have a duty under international law to guarantee fairness and transparency in elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 19, 2021ECJ Reaffirms Restrictions Excluding Muslim Women in the Workplace
The top European Union court has made it clear that employers can restrict the wearing of "religious symbols," such as Islamic headscarves, but only in limited circumstances, which will stigmatize Muslim women.
July 15, 2021Justice Initiative Commends the Supreme Court for Declining to Immunize US Companies for International Law Violations Committed Abroad
The Supreme Court has ruled against enslaved children's bid to hold U.S. companies accountable for abusive labor practices, it also held that companies are not fully exempt—leaving open a route to greater corporate accountability.
June 17, 2021Dutch Appeals Court Affirms Misconduct by TMF Management B.V. in Mozambique “Hidden Debt Scandal”
The ruling demonstrates an increase in scrutiny of under-regulated sovereign debt markets in the Global South, and comes at a time when many countries are experiencing heightened pressure to recover from the COVID-19 crisis by borrowing money.
April 26, 2021New Complaint Filed in Sweden Against High-Ranking Assad Officials for Chemical Weapons Attacks In Syria
Criminal complaints on the Syrian government’s chemical weapons attacks on Khan Shaykhun and Ghouta in 2017 and 2013 have been filed before the Swedish police’s specialized war crimes unit. The complaint was spearheaded by Syrian victims and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), Syrian Archive, and the Justice Initiative.
April 19, 2021