Publications
Read and download reports, handbooks, briefing papers, legal and policy submissions, and fact sheets from the Open Society Justice Initiative.
France’s Biens Mal Acquis Affair: Lessons from a Decade of Legal Struggle
Teodorin Obiang, vice president of Equatorial Guinea, is facing trial in Paris on money laundering and corruption charges—due almost entirely to a 10-year legal campaign by French anti-corruption groups.
May 2017South Africa: Public Trust Theory as the Basis for Resource Corruption Litigation
South Africa’s 1994 Constitution has led to statutes that incorporate the doctrine of public trust into environmental and natural resources law—strengthening potential legal remedies for challenging corruption.
August 2016Legal Remedies for Victims of Bribery under United States Law
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has enabled "follow on" claims from foreign governments and others who suffer losses as a result of corrupt dealings. But many questions about the status of such claims remain open.
June 2016Undeniable Atrocities: Confronting Crimes against Humanity in Mexico
This report argues there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed against civilians in Mexico over the past decade.
June 2016International Crimes
What is the difference between “ordinary” crimes and crimes against humanity? When lawyers talk about international law, what does that mean?
June 2016Private Prosecutions: A Potential Anticorruption Tool in English Law
Private prosecution may offer opportunities in combating corruption, when the criminal actor is part of the state, and state actors may be reluctant to act.
May 2016Lessons from Qui Tam Litigation in the United States
Private whistleblower legal complaints, or qui tam actions, have been successful in the United States, but it is a challenging model to emulate.
April 2016 | David KwokAgainst the Odds: CICIG in Guatemala
The UN-backed International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala offers a potentially powerful example of how to reinforce the rule of law in states beset by corruption and violence.
March 2016