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French Court of Appeal Validates Historic Arrest Warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: A Legal Milestone and Important Victory for Survivors
The Paris Court of Appeal upheld arrest warrants for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and two senior military officials for their alleged roles in the 2013 Ghouta and Douma chemical attacks.
Afghanistan's Taliban Face New International Pressure on Rights of Women and Girls
Four countries are calling the Taliban to account over their violations of the rights of women and girls, in a process that could bring the Afghan regime before the International Court of Justice.
An Update on the Work of the Open Society Justice Initiative
Following a significant operational reorganization of the Open Society Foundations, the Board and leadership of Open Society have reaffirmed the importance of strategic litigation as a pathway to advancing open societies, human rights, and the rule of law.
Justice Initiative Joins Common Stand Against US Sanctions on ICC
The Open Society Justice Initiative has joined more than 70 civil society and faith-based organizations in expressing its deep concern over the potential use of United States sanctions to attack the International Criminal Court.
Justice Initiative Supports Rohingya Survivor in SEC Complaint Against Meta
A whistleblower complaint seeks an investigation of alleged violations of securities laws stemming from Meta's misrepresentations over the spread of hate speech on Facebook in the run up to mass atrocities committed in Myanmar in 2017.
Advocate General Opinion: Denmark’s “Ghetto Package” in Breach of EU’s Race Discrimination Law
The Open Society Justice Initiative welcomes the opinion that provisions of Denmark’s so-called “ghetto package” are directly racially discriminatory and therefore unlawful under the EU’s Race Equality Directive.
European Court Finds France Carried Out Discriminatory Identity Check, But Misses Critical Opportunity to Address Systemic Racial Profiling
While the European Court of Human Rights issued a decision recognizing discrimination in the case of Seydi and Others v. France, it failed to seize the full opportunity to address the structural nature of discriminatory stop and search practices in the country.
Statement by Civil Society Organizations on the Upcoming French Cour de Cassation Hearing Regarding Immunities for State Officials
France’s Court of Cassation will hold a landmark hearing to review the legality of the arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad for deadly chemical attacks in Syria. This is a pivotal moment in the fight against impunity.
Bashar al-Assad Can Be Prosecuted in France, but the Court Missed an Opportunity to Make History
The decision stands in stark contrast to the post-World War II rejection of impunity for heads of state, and it undermines decades of progress in holding leaders accountable for mass atrocities.
Justice Initiative Welcomes U.S. Appeals Court Decision Affirming Foreign Reserves Belong to the Afghan People, Not the Taliban
The Open Society Justice Initiative celebrates the decision of a U.S. federal appeals court confirming that the assets of the Afghanistan central bank are immune from seizure and remain the property of the state of Afghanistan and its people.
Justice Initiative Wins COVID-19 Vaccination Case Against Bulgaria
In a case filed by the Open Society Justice Initiative, the European Committee of Social Rights has determined that Bulgaria’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution and access plan violated several provisions of the European Social Charter.
Telenor Faces Legal Action Over Human Rights Abuses in Myanmar
With support from OSJI, Myanmar victims and civil society organizations have taken the first step towards suing Norwegian telecoms giant Telenor for their role in serious human rights violations in Myanmar.
Justice Initiative Files Appellate Court Brief Challenging Unlawful Dismantling of Foreign Aid
The Open Society Justice Initiative has submitted arguments before the United States Court of Appeals in a case challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID and unlawfully terminate life-saving foreign assistance.
Myanmar Customers Sue Telecoms Giant Telenor for Sharing Private Data of Dissidents with Military Rulers
On behalf of Myanmar customers, a Swedish non-profit association filed a class action lawsuit against Norwegian telecoms giant Telenor for the company’s role in serious human rights violations in Myanmar. The lawsuit seeks damages for the sharing of data with military authorities of customers who were suspected of opposing the 2021 coup.
European Court Reaffirms Principles of EU Law Making It Likely That Denmark's “Ghetto Package” Is Racially Discriminatory
Open Society Foundations welcomes today’s landmark judgment from the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU), which reaffirmed principles of EU law making it likely that that central provisions of Denmark’s “Ghetto Package” violate the EU’s Race Equality Directive.
Justice Initiative Funds Corporate Accountability Litigation Incubator Grants
The Justice Initiative funded five organizations through a new litigation incubator that provides pre-litigation funding and support to groups developing innovative and precedent‑setting cases against corporate actors operating in Europe.
Open Society Justice Initiative Welcomes U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Birthright Citizenship
The Open Society Justice Initiative welcomes today’s U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in preserving birthright citizenship, which has stood as a constitutional guarantee of equal protection and a foundation of the post-Civil War democratic order.
ICC Judges Sue Trump Administration Over ICC Sanctions
Three ICC judges have filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of an Executive Order issued by President Trump, and are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against sanctions by the U.S. government.
U.S. Court Bars Enforcement of Sanctions that Undermine the Rule of Law and Betray American Values
A U.S. federal court issued a permanent injunction to protect the First Amendment rights of two plaintiffs who are law professors and could have been targeted by the Trump Administration’s sanctions for their work with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Rights Groups Sue France Over Failure to Prevent Corporate Support for Israel’s Occupation in Palestine
Human rights organizations file a legal challenge before France’s highest administrative court, seeking for the government to adopt measures to prevent French corporate and financial actors from contributing to Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestine.