Topic: Discrimination and Racial Justice
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.
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.
Evidence Suggests Evictions in a Danish Neighborhood were Racially Biased. Now the Case is Before the High Court.
This case may set an important precedent for standards for discrimination in Denmark.
Denmark’s Discriminatory “Ghetto Package”: Demographic Reports on Nøjsomhed-Sydvej, Helsingor, and Evicted Households
Reports by the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research at Aarhus University analyze demographic trends in Nøjsomhed-Sydvejand, a neighborhood in Denmark designated as a "ghetto" under the government's controversial "Ghetto Package," and three comparator areas, as well as the demographics of 96 forcibly-evicted households in Nøjsomhed-Sydvejand.
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.
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”).
New Kenya High Court Judgment Sets Important Precedent for Digital ID Privacy Protections and Processes
The Justice Initiative welcomes a Kenyan High Court judgment declaring the data collection and roll-out of biometric Huduma cards for the country’s digital ID system, the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS), unconstitutional.
Tenants of Mjølnerparken v. Danish Ministry of Transport and Housing
Twelve Copenhagen residents have filed a lawsuit against the Danish government seeking a declaration that measures under the country’s so-called Ghetto Package are unlawful under EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Implementing Human Rights Decisions: Reflections, Successes, and New Directions
This publication takes stock of the growth and change in the field of human rights implementation, and how to ensure legal decisions can be realized.
Class Action Lawsuit against French Government for Ethnic Profiling by Police
The Justice Initiative, along with partner NGOs, filed the first class action lawsuit in France to end ethnic profiling by police, who disproportionately target people based on their skin color or presumed ethnic origin.
A Class Action Lawsuit in France Challenges Racist Police Tactics
Civil society organizations including the Open Society Justice Initiative are seeking systemic changes from France’s Council of State.
Why We Are Going to Court to Fight Racist French Police Tactics
Two French activists are demanding systematic action to address deep-rooted patterns of ethnic profiling in police stops.
ECJ Reaffirms Restrictions Excluding Muslim Women in the Workplace
The top European Union court has made it clear that employers can restrict the wearing of "religious symbols," such as Islamic headscarves, but only in limited circumstances, which will stigmatize Muslim women.
Ending Ethnic Profiling to Keep Our Communities Safe
A new guide shows how to build creative campaigns and community power to finally put an end to ethnic profiling by police in Europe.
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.
Wa Baile v. Switzerland
Mohamed Wa Baile claims to have been subjected to ethnic profiling in 2015, when he was stopped by police officers in a train station in Zurich and told to identify himself. In 2018, Wa Baile lodged an application for the matter to be heard by European Court of Human Rights.
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.
Justice Initiative Expresses Concern over Trump Administration Proposal to Expand Biometric Surveillance on Immigrants, U.S. Citizens
The Justice Initiative is expressing concern over a Trump administration proposal to expand the use of invasive data collection in the U.S., which could lead continuous surveillance of immigrants and their families.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is Deploying a Massive New Database to Gather Biometric Information
A new U.S. Department of Homeland Security biometric database is projected to contain information on hundreds of millions of people by 2022 and represents an alarming development to scale up the agency's surveillance and information-sharing ability.
Case Watch: German Court Sides with Muslim Women Teachers Over Discriminatory Headscarf Ban
A recent judgement by Germany's top labor court is expected to end a decades old court battle over headscarf bans for teachers.
