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Ongwen’s Guilty Verdict Must be Followed by Credible Reparations for Victims
Former child soldier and LRA commander Dominic Ongwen has been convicted of 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is the ICC's first conviction related to crimes in Uganda, and first verdict for forced marriage and forced pregnancy.
For Hope for Human Rights, Look to Implementation
How effectively can UN and regional human rights treaty bodies police governments who violate human rights law and enforce decisions? Progress over the past ten years signals hope for the future of international human rights.
An Ongoing Syrian War Crimes Trial Provides Important Lessons about Witness Protection
Can national justice systems in Europe ensure the safety of witnesses to grave international crimes? Lawmakers must urgently examine reforms to protect these individuals from harassment, intimidation, and safety and security risks.
COVID-19 Will Lead to Long-Term Housing Insecurity. Governments Must Step In.
Housing crises are ticking time bombs that are being fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. If ignored, they will have major social and political consequences worldwide.
Why the End of U.S. Sanctions on the International Criminal Court Matters to My Community
By rescinding the sanctions, President Biden is acting in line with the promises made during his election campaign to heal his own nation and its relationships with the world.
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.
How Independent Agencies Can Begin to Hold Police Accountable
Countries around the world are building agencies independent from the police to conduct and prosecute allegations of serious crimes by police or other state agents.
Why Hundreds of European Children Living in Syrian Camps Must Be Repatriated
After more than two years of turning a blind eye to the dire situation of children in the camps in northeast Syria, it’s time European states fulfilled their responsibilities and repatriated them with their primary caregivers.
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.
Case Watch: A Mother’s Search for Her Son Leads to Groundbreaking Decision on Disappearances in Mexico
In a major victory for the hundreds of disappeared people and their loved ones in Mexico, the nation’s highest court recognized the mandatory nature of urgent actions issued by the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances.
This African Court Decision Could Curb Electoral Abuse during COVID-19
The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights issues a groundbreaking decision to guarantee transparent, free, and fair elections during the pandemic.
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.
Q&A: Safeguarding Human Rights in Detention and in Encounters with Law Enforcement during COVID-19
Two human rights lawyers in Argentina share reflections on how they used litigation and advocacy to defend the rights of people in detention and to combat abusive law enforcement practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To Protect against Digital Authoritarianism, Telecom Companies Must Respect Human Rights
The way Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko used internet blackouts to limit digital freedom, stifle dissent, and promote pro-regime messages in 2020 is in line with the well-rehearsed playbook of authoritarian regimes.
Q&A: How Putin Could Be Put on Trial for the Crime of Aggression
James A. Goldston, executive director of the Justice Initiative, explains how Russia’s President Vladimir Putin could be prosecuted for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine.
How an Outdated Law in the Bahamas Protects Corporations from Environmental Lawsuits—and What Can Be Done About It
A climate justice movement is growing in the Bahamas and they're turning to the courts. But outdated laws that could force plaintiffs to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring forward a case might prevent them from ever being heard.
The Promise and Pitfalls of Strategic Litigation and Critical Lawyering
Former constitutional court judge Dr. Susanne Baer addressed participants of 2023 Strategic Human Rights Litigation Summer School, organized by the Justice Initiative and Hertie School’s Executive Education.
Q&A: The Human Rights Lessons from Bulgaria’s COVID-19 Failures
A lawsuit against Bulgaria under the European Social Charter seeks to reinforce citizens’ protections in the future—by highlighting policy failures that left the country with the highest COVID-19 death rate in Europe.
A Podcast Gives Voice to Syrians Searching for Justice in Europe International Justice
Now in its second series, “The Syria Trials” tells the human stories behind the drive to prosecute al-Assad regime officials for atrocity crimes before European courts.
A Legal Victory in the Drive to End Racist Police Tactics Ethnic Profiling
Mohamad Wa Baile, a Swiss citizen, complained to the European Court of Human Rights that he had been subjected to a discriminatory stop by police in Switzerland. The court ruled in his favor, marking a step forward in the drive to eliminate racially-biased policing in Europe.