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Waikwa Wanyoike
Waikwa Wanyoike is the director of strategic litigation and learning at the Open Society Justice Initiative.
James Goldston
James A. Goldston is the executive director of the Open Society Justice Initiative.
Case Watch: UK Supreme Court Provides Gateway for Zambian Farmers and Corporate Accountability
The UK Supreme Court has given poor Zambian claimants the right to sue a global mining behemoth in English courts.
Case Watch: European Court Finds Ethnic Profiling by the Police Discriminatory
For the first time, the European Court of Human Rights has used the consequential phrase “ethnic profiling” in a ruling concerning a police action it considered discriminatory.
Q&A: German Court Demands Greater Scrutiny of U.S. Drone Attacks
For years, Germany has cooperated with the United States’ controversial use of drone strikes. A new court ruling may force the government to reassess.
How Weaponizing Citizenship Hurts the Justice System
No one should have their citizenship revoked as a form of punishment. It’s wrong—and it undermines the rule of law.
Volunteer Lawyers Give New Direction to Nigerian Legal Aid Initiative
In the town of Ikorodu, local lawyers are delivering free legal aid to detainees within 48 hours of arrest and joining an effort to steer people charged with nonviolent crimes away from unnecessary detention.
International Prosecutors Fought Corruption in Guatemala. Now They’ve Been Ordered Out
The United States is acquiescing in the destruction of one of the few institutions that has shown success in targeting the main causes of Guatemala’s dysfunction.
Hungary’s Anti-NGO Tax Law Violates Free Speech and Freedom of Association
The Venice Commission, Europe’s leading body of legal experts on democracy and the rule of law, has called on Hungary to repeal a 25 percent tax on NGOs working on migration issues.
When It Comes to Race, European Justice Is Not Blind
A new survey of 12 EU member countries shows that how people are treated by the police and the courts often depends on their race or ethnic background.
Case Watch: South Africa’s Constitutional Court Strikes Down Restrictive Protest Law
A carefully reasoned ruling from South Africa’s Constitutional Court will reinforce the existing international jurisprudence supporting the right to peaceful protest.
Using the Courts to Change the World: Insights from Experience
A new report by the Open Society Justice Initiative offers an unprecedented overview of strategic human rights litigation around the world, and offers eight lessons for success.
Ending Racial Bias in Police Stop and Search
Despite recent reforms, police in the UK continue to unfairly target people of color when using stop and search. A new report should be a wake-up call to those who still defend this failed, counterproductive policy.
How International Justice Can Go Local
Over 30 national and regional initiatives have been launched to prosecute mass atrocity crimes since the early 1990s. A comprehensive new survey looks at the lessons learned.
Case Watch: A Victory in Europe for Muslim Women’s Right to Wear a Headscarf
For the first time, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favor of a Muslim woman’s right to wear a headscarf.
Saving Newborn Rohingya from a Legal Abyss
The government of Bangladesh has already promised to uphold its obligation to register newborn Rohingya refugees. For the sake of international law—and the children’s future—it must stop dragging its feet.
A Better Tool for Ensuring International Justice
The Open Society Justice Initiative is unveiling a new tool for making the work done by the International Criminal Court and other key tribunals more accessible to all.
To Tackle Inequality, We Need New Thinking on Tax Havens
Three global trends require us to look more closely at how tax havens are distorting the the world’s economy and fueling growing economic inequalities.
Data Alone Won’t Stop Ethnic Profiling
While many police officers in Belgium recognize that ethnic profiling is real and harmful, acknowledging the problem is only the beginning. It’s time for law enforcement to move beyond words and make concrete policy changes.
Russia’s Mass Naturalization of Crimeans Has Had Very Unnatural Effects
Russia’s campaign to impose nationality on the annexed territory has led to the sometimes violent suppression of ethnic identity, according to a new report.