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Making Headway with Pretrial Justice
The provision of effective pretrial justice has in the past not received the attention it merits from both governments and international aid donors. But there are encouraging signs of change.
Italian Court Sets a Standard for Accountability for CIA Abuses
An Italian court has set a standard for accountability for the abuses perpetrated by a global network of states that worked with the CIA to secretly detain and extraordinarily render terror suspects after September 11, 2001.
ICC Credibility and the Case against Laurent Gbagbo
The opening of hearings in the International Criminal Court's case against Laurent Gbagbo, the former president of Ivory Coast, comes at a critical time for the tribunal.
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.
Still Waiting for an End to Police Discrimination in Spain
Twenty years ago, Rosalind Williams was stopped by police in Spain because she did not look Spanish enough. Unfortunately, ethnic profiling still remains a problem in Spain, as elsewhere in western Europe.
Mali: An Attack Against History and a War Crime
The destruction of tombs and museums in Timbuktu constitute war crimes, as defined by the Rome Statute. If charges follow, they would be the first of their kind before the ICC.
Football and Anti-Gay Bigotry in the European Union Grantee Spotlight
A case before the European Court of Justice should have significant implications for how anti-gay discrimination can be proved and punished in the EU.
Only in America? The Kiriakou Affair and the Public’s Right to Know
The U.S. will sentence John Kiriakou, a former CIA agent, to 30 months in jail for breaching official secrecy laws. Most European countries would have responded less harshly.
Towards Global Principles on National Security and the Right to Information: An Update
The Open Society Justice Initiative has been working to win European support for a draft set of principles that would establish guidelines for public access to information about national security issues.
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.
Amid New Instability, a Struggle for Justice Continues in Eastern Congo
Kelly Askin has just returned from Shabouda, in the Democratic Repubic of Congo, where a mobile court continued to try rape cases, even as M23 militia attacked the provinicial town of Goma, just over 100 miles away.
A Dark Anniversary in the Czech Republic
In November 2007, the European Court of Human Rights demanded an end to segregated education for Roma in Czech schools. Last week, five years later, Gypsy Crew took the stage.
The Right to Information in Africa: Five Years of Dramatic Change
As the rights revolution unfolded in Africa over the past two decades, the right to information lagged behind. But a new special rapporteur—with a new mandate—has delivered unexpected results.
Italy’s Segregated Camps for Roma Face Discrimination Challenge
The city of Rome is being taken court—over the construction of a segregated camp to house several hundred Roma on a site next to an airport runway.
Making Legal Aid Work in Nigeria’s Police Stations
Eighty percent of Nigeria’s prison population is awaiting trial. But young lawyers posted at local police stations are now keeping more people out of unnecessary detention.
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.
Czech Roma Education: Time to Deliver on Promises
The Czech government has said it will end the segregation of Roma children in sub-standard schools. But it needs to set firm targets on the road to full inclusion.