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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.
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.
A Move Towards New Standards for Pretrial Justice in Africa
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has taken a significant decision to address policing and pretrial detention issues.
Case Watch: Challenging Police Abuse in Spain
A ruling from the European Court of Human Rights has recognized the particular vulnerability of black women in Spain to racial discrimination and abuse.
Pardons are Not a Solution to Prison Overcrowding
The first half of 2012 brought a bumper crop of prison pardons. But they are not an effective way of managing prison populations.
Living in a Shadow of Perpetual Suspicion
Rizwaan Sabir was treated as a terrorism suspect for downloading a document for his academic research in 2008. His story highlights concerns about how anti-terrorism powers are being used by UK police.
European Parliament Supports New Arrest Rights
In a breakthrough this week, the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee agreed on a strong proposal for a directive that will guarantee the right to lawyer for all people accused or suspected of crimes.
Why Police Profiling Is Not Just a New York Problem
In cities across Western Europe, young men of color are subjected to discriminatory police stops, contributing to a profound sense of alienation—not just from the police, but from society at large.
UK Stop and Search Policing Tactics Mar Human Rights Report
Members of the UN Human Rights Council have raised concerns over ethnic, racial and religious profiling in the way British police carry out “stop and search” checks.
Case Watch: Brazil’s Supreme Court Rules against Blanket Prohibition on Pretrial Release
Brazil’s Supreme Court has overturned a blanket ban that prevented pretrial release pending trial for anyone charged with certain categories of drug crime.
Should It Be Illegal to Swear at a Police Officer?
Police in the UK have argued that those who swear at them during street encounters are likely to cause them alarm and distress, thereby allowing them to use their powers of arrest. A recent ruling rejected the practice.
Q&A: Mothers Are Leading the Search for Mexico’s Missing People
Mexico continues to break records for its rates of deadly violence and disappearances, but criminal accountability remains virtually absent. A group of mothers in the state of Coahuila have taken up their own fight for truth and justice.
Almost a Decade after his Death, Sergei Magnitsky Gets a Measure of Justice
The ruling from Europe's human rights court validates the underlying rationale for the laws adopted by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and some other countries to impose sanctions on designated individuals implicated in gross human rights abuses.
Case Watch: UN Finds Mexico Responsible for Man’s Disappearance, Relies on Witness’s Word
There are more than 40,000 people who are missing in Mexico. One family’s journey to find out what happened to their son could help others seeking justice.
New Report Takes Stock of Court Reparations Rulings across Latin America
Courts across Latin America have developed innovative approaches to the challenge of delivering reparations to the victims of violence. A new report outlines lessons learned.
Q&A: How a System to Document Police Stops Improved Policing in Fuenlabrada, Spain
Police inspector and criminal justice expert David Martín Abánades shares his insights on the implementation of a new system to collect data on police stops in Fuenlabrada, Spain.
How a Legal Aid Program is Tackling the Crisis of Nigeria’s Overcrowded Prisons
In Nigeria, the overuse of pretrial detentions has placed a crushing burden on the justice system and the nation's overcrowded jails. That's where the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme, a legal aid program that has helped over 15,000 suspects, comes in.
