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The Trial of Dominic Ongwen at the ICC: The Judgment
This paper summarizes the main issues in the trial of Dominic Ongwen, a former commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group, including evidence presented by the prosecution, defense, and victims’ representatives.
Concern Over Appointment of William Shawcross to Review UK’s Counter Terror Strategy
Open Society Justice Initiative is joining Muslim rights organizations in expressing deep concern about William Shawcross’s suitability for Reviewer of Prevent in the UK, given his record and previous statements on Islam.
Justice Initiative Joins Groups in Giving Notice of Class Action Lawsuit against French Government for Ethnic Profiling by Police
The Justice Initiative has joined civil and human rights groups in sending a letter of notice of a class action lawsuit against the French government for police identity checks that perpetuate ongoing and systemic ethnic profiling.
A New Guide Highlights How to Provide Effective Legal Services Remotely During COVID-19
The guide is a practical resource intended for civil legal service providers around the world, especially rural areas, where in-person meetings have often been challenging, even before the COVID-19 crisis.
Justice Initiative Joins Call for Biden Administration to Halt Citizenship Stripping
The Justice Initiative has joined a call on the incoming Biden administration to end the U.S. government’s use of denaturalizations, a draconian tool weaponized under the Trump administration.
Justice Initiative Welcomes First UN Human Rights Committee Ruling on the Right to Nationality for Children
The UN Human Rights Committee has found, in the case of Zhao v. Netherlands, that the Netherlands violated the rights of a child, Denny Zhao, by assigning him the status of “unknown” nationality when his birth in the country was registered.
Case Watch: Colombian Constitutional Court Sets Important Precedent on Victims of Grave Crimes’ Access to Court Evidence
In September 2020, the Colombian Constitutional Court issued a judgment setting standards for the rights of victims of grave crimes to access files and request copies of evidence related to a case.
Federal Judge Sides with Human Rights Lawyers over Trump Administration’s ICC Ban
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration not to enforce an executive order that effectively prevented human rights lawyers from collaborating with the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Zhao v. Netherlands
In the UN Human Rights Committee's first ever decision on the right of children to acquire nationality, it determined that by registering a child as “nationality unknown”, Dutch authorities violated his right to international protection and to seek a nationality.
Justice Initiative and CEHRI Call on Austria to Accelerate Prosecution of Syrian War Crimes
The Justice Initiative and the Centre for the Enforcement of Human Rights International (CEHRI) call on the Austrian government to expedite its efforts to investigate and prosecute suspects for war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the Syrian conflict.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights Highlights Importance of Prosecutorial Independence in Judgment on Martínez Esquivia v. Colombia
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has announced a judgment in favor of fired Colombian deputy prosecutor Yenina Esther Martínez Esquivia, finding that Colombia violated her fundamental rights when she was dismissed from her position.
How a 230-Year-Old Law Could Hold U.S. Corporations Accountable for Child Slavery Abroad
A case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court could decide whether children formerly held as slaves can hold U.S. corporations accountable for human rights violations perpetrated abroad.
Ana Matilda Gómez Ruiloba v. Panama
Ana Matilda Gómez filed a petition before the Inter-American Commission challenging her dismissal as attorney general of Panama in 2010 after carrying out an investigation against a prosecutor for allegedly accepting bribes.
Housing Groups Call on Governments to Adopt Comprehensive Legislation to Ensure Housing during COVID-19
The Open Society Justice Initiative and the Open Society Initiative for Europe have joined The Shift and a coalition of human rights groups in unveiling comprehensive model emergency legislation to protect the right to housing during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis.
Federal Court Orders U.S. Intelligence Agencies to Explain Withholding of Khashoggi Tape and Report
The court found that official acknowledgements—including President Trump's own statements—prevented the government from refusing to acknowledge that it is withholding records and audio tapes about the slain journalist.
Model Emergency Housing Legislation: Protecting the Right to Housing during COVID-19
This comprehensive model emergency legislation, developed by the Open Society Justice Initiative, the Open Society Initiative for Europe, The Shift, and a coalition of human rights groups, consists of legal provisions that governments can use to protect the right to housing during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis.
Protecting the Right to Housing During the COVID-19 Crisis
This briefing paper highlights the patchwork approach that States across the world have taken in order to protect the right to housing during the COVID-19 crisis, and examines the need for more comprehensive emergency legislation to prevent evictions during a global pandemic.
Justice Initiative Signs Open Letter to the ICC Assembly of States Parties on Prosecutor Elections
The Justice Initiative joins more than a dozen organizations calling on the ASP to ensure a transparent and merit-based election process for the next ICC Prosecutor.
Justice Initiative Welcomes African Court’s Ruling against “Arbitrary” Vagrancy Laws
In a landmark advisory opinion, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights found that vagrancy laws on the books of at least 38 African countries discriminate against women, children, people with disabilities, and others.
Equality Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Adopts New Resolution on Police Profiling
The Open Society Justice Initiative applauds the adoption of a draft resolution by the Equality Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) calling on all European States to pass laws to ban ethnic profiling.