Topic: Discrimination and Racial Justice
ECHR Fast-Tracks Case on Racial Profiling by Police in France
Over four years after Seydi and others v. France was filed before the European Court of Human Rights, the tribunal has designated this case on racial profiling by police as a priority for more expeditious processing by labelling it as a potential “impact” case (“affaire à impact”).
The Justice Initiative Supports French Youth in Complaint Against Wrongful Lockdown Fines
Over thirty teenagers and young adults from the French working-class district of Essonne are challenging penalties they received during the Spring 2020 coronavirus lockdown for violating a stay-at-home order, claiming that the fines are unlawful, inappropriate, and discriminatory.
As Denmark Plans Housing for Ukrainian Refugees, Justice Initiative Renews Calls for Abolishment of “Ghetto Package”
New measures to override Denmark’s “Ghetto Package” to allow Ukrainian refugees to move into government-designated “vulnerable housing” areas adds to justifications for abolishing these discriminatory housing laws and ensuring that better access to housing and education for all refugees, argues the Open Society Justice Initiative.
Human Rights in the Context of Automatic Naturalization in Crimea
This report examines the implications for the population of the Crimean peninsula of the imposition of Russian citizenship that followed Russia’s seizure of the territory from Ukraine in 2014.
Restrictions on Muslim Women's Dress in the 27 EU Member States and the United Kingdom
This policy brief and accompanying fact sheet map EU and UK laws and pending legislation restricting religious dress—specifically the headscarf and face veil worn by Muslim women.
Case Digests: International Standards on Ethnic Profiling: Standards and Decisions from the European System
A review of European legal standards, including jurisprudence and commentaries, which address ethnic profiling.
Born in the Americas: The Promise and Practice of Nationality Laws in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia
This examination of citizenship regimes in Brazil, Chile and Colombia finds weaknesses that create the risk of statelessness.
Strategic Litigation Impacts: Equal Access to Quality Education
This comparative study, based on research in Brazil, India, and South Africa, assesses how the power of the litigation is being harnessed in the pursuit of adequate basic education for all.
Headscarves and Discrimination before the Court of Justice of the European Union
The EU's top court will rule on whether an employer can refuse to allow a Muslim woman to wear a headscarf at her place of work.
Employer’s Bar on Religious Clothing and European Union Discrimination Law
The Open Society Justice Initiative calls on the Court of Justice of the European Union to rule that equality law is violated when an employer on the grounds of “neutrality”—bans its staff from wearing any religious clothing.
Strategic Litigation Impacts: Roma School Desegregation
This study examines the role of strategic litigation in efforts to end discrimination against Roma school children in Greece, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
Fair and Effective Police Stops
This report provides a roadmap for combating ethnic profiling in police work, drawing on reform efforts by five police departments in Spain.
Deportation and Citizenship in the Dominican Republic: Unanswered Questions
Despite assurances from the government over threatened deportations, the position of tens of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian Descent remains uncertain.
France’s Veil Ban before the European Court of Human Rights
On Tuesday, July 1, the European Court of Human Rights will rule on whether France’s 2010 ban on wearing full-face veils in public breaches the protections of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Opinion on Clause 60 of UK Immigration Bill and Article 8 of UN Convention on Reducing Statelessness
This legal opinion concludes that a proposed move to remove previously allowed protections against statelessness would put the UK in breach of the 1961 Statelessness Convention.
UK Must Not Undermine Global Battle against Statelessness
A summary of the issues at stake, as the upper house of the UK parliament considers a proposal that would allow the government to make people stateless.
Equality Under Pressure: The Impact of Ethnic Profiling in the Netherlands
The Dutch pride themselves on being members of an open, tolerant, and fair society. But for a growing number of people in the Netherlands, this ideal is being put under pressure by proactive police actions.
Case Digests: International Standards on Ethnic Profiling: Decisions and Comments from the UN system
A review of key legal-standards, including jurisprudence and commentaries, from the UN human rights system on the legal prohibition of ethnic profiling.
Discrimination in German Schools
A summary of key facts that point to a structural problem with discrimination against children of migrant families in Gemany's schools
Standing Up for Equality in Germany’s Schools
Why do children of “migration background” often perform significantly worse at school than their native German counterparts? The problem is discrimination.