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Case Watch: What a Yugoslav War Crimes Acquital Means for Charles Taylor
The conviction of General Momčilo Perišić for aiding and abetting war crimes was overturned by the ICTY, with implications for the appeal of former Liberian president Charles Taylor
High Stakes in Mexico’s Choice on Justice System Reform
New justice reforms could help reduce overcrowding in Mexico’s state prisons, but only if the changes include an effective system for managing pretrial release.
Poland’s Damaging Failure to Respond to CIA Black Site Case
Poland’s failure to cooperate with the European Court of Human Rights over a secret CIA prison is jeopardizing its wider commitment to human rights.
Guatemala at the Cross Roads in Search for Justice
With the trial of a former president for genocide and crimes against humanity, Guatemala is following other Latin American countries that have sought justice for historic human rights abuses.
Immigration Crackdown in Stockholm Provokes Pushback
Police in Stockholm have been accused of ethnic profiling as they step up identity checks; activists have responded by using social media to track police movements.
The Power of Women in Advancing the Cause of Gender Justice
The presence of women on international war crimes tribunals and as advocates for gender justice has played a vital role in the gains seen in the two decades in recognizing rape as a war-crime.
Families of World War Two Massacre Victims Invoke the Right to Truth
A case before the European Court of Human Rights seeks to establish the full truth about a Soviet massacre of Polish POWs during World War II.
Making Headway with Pretrial Justice
The provision of effective pretrial justice has in the past not received the attention it merits from both governments and international aid donors. But there are encouraging signs of change.
Italian Court Sets a Standard for Accountability for CIA Abuses
An Italian court has set a standard for accountability for the abuses perpetrated by a global network of states that worked with the CIA to secretly detain and extraordinarily render terror suspects after September 11, 2001.
ICC Credibility and the Case against Laurent Gbagbo
The opening of hearings in the International Criminal Court's case against Laurent Gbagbo, the former president of Ivory Coast, comes at a critical time for the tribunal.
Case Watch: European Court Rules on Torture and Extradition
Two recent cases against Russia illustrate the way the European Court of Human Rights assesses claims that an applicant cannot be extradited to a third country because they would be at risk of torture.
Access to Justice Advances in Ukraine
Ukraine has launched its first comprehensive national legal aid system, providing free legal advice to anyone who cannot afford to pay for a laywer.
Why Violence in Africa Presents an Existential Threat
Advocates seeking a more open and democratic society in Africa have mostly failed to grasp the extent of the threat posed by violence.
Still Waiting for an End to Police Discrimination in Spain
Twenty years ago, Rosalind Williams was stopped by police in Spain because she did not look Spanish enough. Unfortunately, ethnic profiling still remains a problem in Spain, as elsewhere in western Europe.
Mali: An Attack Against History and a War Crime
The destruction of tombs and museums in Timbuktu constitute war crimes, as defined by the Rome Statute. If charges follow, they would be the first of their kind before the ICC.
Football and Anti-Gay Bigotry in the European Union Grantee Spotlight
A case before the European Court of Justice should have significant implications for how anti-gay discrimination can be proved and punished in the EU.
Only in America? The Kiriakou Affair and the Public’s Right to Know
The U.S. will sentence John Kiriakou, a former CIA agent, to 30 months in jail for breaching official secrecy laws. Most European countries would have responded less harshly.
Towards Global Principles on National Security and the Right to Information: An Update
The Open Society Justice Initiative has been working to win European support for a draft set of principles that would establish guidelines for public access to information about national security issues.
Fined for Being Roma while Cycling
In a small northern Hungarian village, the local police were singling out local Roma for riding bikes without bells and reflectors. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee responded.
UN General Assembly Enacts Global Standards on Access to Legal Aid
The UN General Assembly has adopted the world's first international instrument for the provision of legal aid, setting out guidelines and principles for ensuring fair trial rights for all, regardless of economic status.