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Promoting Prosecutorial Accountability, Independence and Effectiveness
This Open Society Foundations publication is designed to help identify best practices and serve as a reference for policymakers, senior prosecutors, academics, and civil society leaders.
Victim of CIA Abduction Files Lawsuit against Macedonian Government
New information pointing to Macedonia's role in the wrongful kidnapping of a United States rendition victim provides added weight to legal challenges against the government, said the Open Society Justice Initiative.
As Lubanga Trial Begins, Goldston Cites International Criminal Court Progress
In a new op-ed, Open Society Justice Initiative executive director James A. Goldston praises progress made at the International Criminal Court.
World Justice on Trial
Five years after the world's first permanent criminal tribunal commenced operations, the International Criminal Court has made its mark. The ICC has opened four active investigations, issued public charges against 12 people, and to date secured...
Reports Find Inadequate Protection of Defendants' Rights in the EU
The European Union must do more to protect the rights of criminal defendants, according to three recent studies.
Justice, Interrupted
Recent operational and procedural irregularities risk the legitimacy of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia as a credible court of law, writes Open Society Justice Initiative's James Goldston.
Pretrial Detention: Scale and Relevance to HIV/AIDS
The indiscriminate use of pretrial detention (PTD)—the incarceration of accused persons before they have been determined guilty of the crime charged—is a violation of international legal standards.
New Reports Urge Donors to Enhance and Improve Criminal Justice Investments
In a series of reports examining donor and government support for criminal justice reform projects, the Open Society Justice Initiative offers recommendations for more effective investment in the field.
New Book Examines Human Costs of Pretrial Detention in Mexico
A new book explores the human toll of pretrial detention in Mexico through the stories of people who needlessly suffer in jail, sometimes for years, while awaiting trial.
AIDS Conference Looks at Pretrial Detention as a Public Health Issue
Two sessions at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City explored the role of pretrial detention in spreading disease.
U.S. Senate Hears Open Society Justice Initiative Testimony on Crimes Against Humanity
In June, Open Society Justice Initiative special counsel Diane Orentlicher provided expert testimony on crimes against humanity to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law.
Karadžic Arrest Hailed as a Triumph for Victims and for Justice
The arrest of one of the world's most notorious fugitives, Radovan Karadžic, on genocide and other charges is a milestone in international justice and signifies major if long overdue progress by Serbia, the Open Society Justice Initiative said.
Rights Groups Demand Investigation of CIA's Extraordinary Rendition Program
Lawsuits against Germany, United States, and Macedonia seek justice for Khaled El Masri, a German citizen rendered to Afghanistan and tortured by the CIA, according to the Open Society Justice Initiative, who met with partner organizations in...
Open Society Justice Initiative Expert Gives Senate Testimony on Rape as War Crime
Kelly Askin, senior legal officer on international justice, testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law about rape as a weapon of war.
Rights Groups Urge United Nations on Justice in Northern Uganda
In a letter sent to the UN Security Council, the Open Society Justice Initiative and two other leading human rights organizations urged the full pursuit of justice for mass crimes committed in northern Uganda.
Shrinking the Space for Denial: The Impact of the ICTY in Serbia
This groundbreaking report published by the Open Society Justice Initiative examines the impact in Serbia of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Open Society Justice Initiative Applauds Torture Ruling
With Saadi v. Italy, the European Court of Human Rights has reaffirmed the European Convention ban on deporting people to countries where they are at risk of being tortured, in a decision hailed the Open Society Justice Initiative and other human...
New Report from Turkey Finds Accused Lack Legal Representation
An empirical study of legal aid in Istanbul jointly undertaken by the Open Society Justice Initiative and Istanbul Bilgi University found that only 10 percent of criminal defendants in Istanbul are represented by a lawyer.
Open Society Justice Initiative Commends Ruling on Prisoners' Rights in Kazakhstan, Calls for Investigation of Torture
A ruling by Kazakhstan's Constitutional Council overturning a legal provision limiting the rights of prisoners who protested against widespread torture in prison is a step in the right direction, but authorities must investigate prisoners'...
Open Society Justice Initiative Finds Racial Discrimination in Dutch Database
The Dutch government’s practice of gathering and processing sensitive racial and ethnic data infringes on the right to privacy and the right of freedom from racial and ethnic discrimination, according to a legal submission by the Open Society...