What we do
Research & publications
Toolkits, papers, chapters and books. Longer-form work than the blog, written to be cited.
2026
2024
The Paris 2024 Olympics: “Inclusive Games” or Human Rights Catastrophe?
The Paris 2024 Olympics, dubbed the “inclusive games,” boasted the motto “Games Wide Open” or in French “Ouvrons grand les Jeux.” This slogan aimed to
Open Data, Privacy, and Corruption: What’s the Solution?
Corruption networks often leave behind digital fingerprints in government datasets. Ironically, these schemes depend on legal mechanisms to secure their ill-gotten gains—think companies, land, and
What Future for International Justice? Sanctions and the ICC
What future for international justice, when major powers sanction Courts like the ICC? On the 22nd of May 2024, the U.S. House Republicans announced plans
Palestine at the International Court of Justice – A View From Our Director
Sometimes, even as events unfold, you can sense history weighting the present, writing events into our collective memory as deeply as chiselled stone. That was
Une petite sardine? The Trial Judgment in the Al Hassan Case
January 2012 saw the onset of the Mali War, plunging the nation into its worst human rights crisis in 50 years. Since the Ministry of
All Eyes on Papua: The Fight for Indigenous Rights and Environmental Protection
Imagine waking up one day to find your home, your heritage and your livelihood ripped away, all in the name of profit. For indigenous people
The effectiveness of provisional measures: South Africa vs Israel
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt its military operations in the southern Gazan city of Rafah for the third time on
Reaching the Stronghold of Justice: Challenges for Strategic Litigation before the CJEU
The EU likes to present itself as a bastion of justice, committed to protecting the fundamental rights of all its citizens. Yet, accessing the Court
Beyond the Battlefield: How NGOs Leverage Digital Evidence to Fight Impunity
Ever wondered how technology is reshaping the fight for justice in conflict zones? Over the past decade, technological advancements have fundamentally transformed the ways in
Gender, Power, and Corruption: Virginia Laparra’s Fight
Concern for Lilian Virginia Laparra Rivas’ persists as her trial was delayed despite international recognition that her detention violates human rights law. The treatment of
How Ukraine’s New Mobilization Law Impacts Human Rights and Global Food Systems
Ukraine’s recent mobilization law, is a bold move to fortify the nation’s military prowess amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. This legislation, signed into effect
Arms and Aid: Nicaragua’s Call for Action at the ICJ
Imagine a scenario where humanitarian aid collides head-on with military support in one of the world’s most contentious conflicts. That’s precisely what Nicaragua is claiming
European Court Delivers Landmark Climate-Change Decisions: An Access to Justice Perspective (part II)
To read part one of this two-part blog post, click here. The ECtHR judgments in these historic climate cases will have far-reaching consequences particularly for
European Court Delivers Landmark Climate-Change Decisions: An Access to Justice Perspective (part I)
Last week a historic moment in climate and human rights litigation occurred when the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) addressed the issue of climate
The Use of Strategic Litigation to Combat Grand Corruption
Can strategic litigation dismantle the fortress of grand corruption? Strategic litigation is increasingly being used by Civil Society Organisations and NGOs to tackle grand corruption,
The AI Act: what’s next?
Will AI destroy human civilisation? Perhaps not. The super-intelligent, genocidally misguided, and inventively destructive AI systems of Age of Ultron, Terminator, and Do Androids Dream
Victim-Oriented Justice: The International Criminal Court and its Influence on the Situation in Afghanistan
Will the Afghan victims’ suffering be acknowledged in the ICC’s courtrooms? The people of Afghanistan have endured decades of conflict and atrocities with little accountability.
Legal Aid Wins in the UK Courts, or: why we should pay to defend criminals?
By Tom Sparks Just Access Why should we pay to defend criminals? It’s a beguiling argument that populists all over the world have used to
2023
Human Rights and Digital Empires
By Luca Brocca Just Access On October 10, 2023, Just Access participated in the event at the European Parliament “EPRS Book Talk | Digital Empires:
A Message from Gaza
By Leyan AlMaqousi Just Access Gaza is not merely a label on a map; it’s an integral part of Palestine, the capital of which is
Rape as a strategy of war: Gender-based violence during the Bosnian War (1992-1995)
Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Bosnian society was divided between ethnic Muslim Bosniaks, ethnic Orthodox Serbs, and Croats of Catholic origins. In a violent
Defying the Court: The Phenomenon of Offenders Skipping Sentencing and Its Impact on the Justice System
The foundation of our justice system lies in its ability to deliver timely and appropriate verdicts. For the public, the sentencing hearing is a culmination
Incarceration and Rehabilitation: How Improved Legal Education for Prisoners Can Reduce Recidivism
The issue of recidivism – or the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend – has long been a challenge for many countries. The cycle
Breaking the Silence: A Path to Redress for Comfort Women
Seventy-six years after World War II (WWII), the world is still trying to soothe the wounds of those affected by the tragic manifestations of evil
Join Scholars Without Borders
Just Access Director, Professor Mark Somos, is proud to have joined Scholars Without Borders (SWB), a new programme at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian
Moonlighting and Multiple Hatting in International Law
In the last sixty years, there has been a remarkable increase in international courts and tribunals established by states through international or supranational bodies.[1] These
Reflecting on 25 Years of the Rome Statute: Advancing International Criminal Justice
On July 17th, we commemorate a significant milestone that symbolizes our commitment to justice and the protection of human rights worldwide. It is the anniversary
Just Access Legal and Research Papers Vol. 3
Corruption in Cambodia and the influence of the international level
During the 8th Asia-Pacific Victims of Corruption (VoC) meeting, Piseth Duch, the founder of the business and human rights law group, presented the legal standing
Organisations promoting the ideology of fascist figures in North Macedonia and State measures against them
Just Access welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Call for input of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism for her Report
Unmasking Corruption: The European Union’s Sanctions Arsenal
Sanctions are a powerful foreign policy tool. However, when it comes to matters of corruption, the European Union (EU) still lacks a consistent policy in
Justice Delayed, Justice Denied: Bias, Opacity and Protracted Case Resolution at the International Criminal Court
This article critically analyzes the activity of the International Criminal Court (ICC), highlighting several areas which are in need of improvement, among which one can
Food Insecurity and Human Rights Working Group Paper
<strong>Reflecting on One Year of Conflict: The Ongoing War in Ukraine</strong>
The war in Ukraine began one year ago when Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine, marking the biggest conflict in Europe since WWII. The
Responsibility to Protect & The Rohingya Genocide: The Latest Liberal Failure?
‘If humanitarian intervention is indeed an unacceptable assault on sovereignty, how should we respond to a Rwanda, to a Srebrenica – to gross and systematic
The Emerging Idea of an International Anti-Corruption Court
Our legal fellow, Marija Chekredji, writes about grand corruption as a problem which has devastating effects on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights
The Issue of Domestic Violence in the Republic of Moldova
The problem of domestic violence is a global concern and a gross violation of human rights and freedoms. As this issue affects society as a
21st Session of the Assembly of States Parties
Between 5 and 10 December 2022, the Just Access Representative to the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Zinovia Verikokidi, had the pleasure of participating
2022
Human Rights violations in the Uma Oya project
Victims of corruption often struggle to claim reparation for the harm they have suffered and legal requirements make it difficult for victims to be represented
Youth Activism and Access to Justice
Our legal intern, Luca Brocca, discusses the importance of youth activism events and organisations and how they contribute to improve access to justice. In this blog
On corruption and some modern tools to tackle it
Our legal intern, Luca Brocca, writes about #corruption and some modern tools used to tackle it, reflecting on two meetings with the #UNCAC Coalition Victims
Towards e-Justice: European and National Experiences
Our Legal Intern, Luca Brocca, writes about e-Justice and how technology both improves and hampers access to justice by investigating legal precedents at both national
Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
Our legal intern Luca Brocca writes about access to justice in environmental matters, the main legal instruments that protect it, and the obstacles to its
Access to justice and the right to an effective remedy for human rights violations
The concept of access to justice has many different elements, mostly connected to the right to a fair trial. However, perhaps the main right
Corruption in International Law: Illusions of a Grotian Moment
Abstract Has there already been a Grotian Moment for corruption? If not, what would it take for new legal rules and doctrines on
Just Access Legal and Research Papers Vol. 2
Quick-fixes are not a solution to the century-long Balkan problems
A year ago, Just Access published an analysis1 pointing to the abuse of EU’s accession procedural rules committed by Bulgaria’s blocking of the opening of…
More Than Just A Home
Our legal fellow Sara Masetti, a volunteer in Avvocato di Strada, writes about the housing problem in Italy and the legislative that shapes it, the specific…
2021
Diminishing access to justice during police stops and custody within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic
This post focuses on the issue of regular encounters with law enforcement authorities that lead to police stops, arrests and police custody, during which the…
Access to justice and amnesty laws: two irreconcilable concepts?
After a violent internal conflict, or in the context of transitioning from an authoritarian regime to democracy, one of the main hurdles that victims of…
Stakeholders v. Shareholders: reimagining environmental justice
An introduction to ESG through investor/shareholder activism For giant corporations and businesses around the globe, climate justice goals have often reflected less of a…
On Qatar’s Reservations to the ICESCR
On 18-22 October 2021 in Geneva the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will hold its 69th Pre-Sessional Working Group to start…
Depriving the Myanmar junta of narcotics income: the international community’s, States’ and NGOs’ obligations and opportunities
Myanmar is the largest provider of narcotics in Asia, and probably the whole world. Since the military junta’s coup d’état in February 2021, the country…
20 years in pursuit of ‘access to justice’ under the AARHUS Convention
Brief journey of the Aarhus Convention Environmental rights and climate justice under the international law regime cannot be discussed without referring to the 1998…
Just Access Legal and Research Papers Vol. 1
Justice for ISIL Victims Part 2: A Jurisdictional Perspective
As the national judicial systems in Iraq and Syria are unable to respond to demands for justice from victims of ISIL, the international community…
Justice for ISIL Victims Part 1: A Constitutional Perspective
Efforts to hold ISIL accountable for the heinous crimes committed that may amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, and to attain…
The urgent task of improving the online complaint procedure before Human Rights Council Special Procedures Mandate Holders: towards victim-friendly design and effective collective complaints
Bulgaria’s is instrumentalising its vote for the adoption of the EU Commission proposed negotiation framework for North Macedonia for other purposes, ie in order to advance a political agenda based on historical and cultural claims which are irrelevant to EU requirements for granting the official statute of candidate country to EU accession. Therefore, it can be regarded as violating the aforementioned international fundamental principles by abusing the rights it is enjoying in the Union as well as the EU legal processes applicable to possible enlargement.
Corruption and access to justice in international law, Part 3
Later this year, in the second session of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (‘GANHRI’), the Qatar National Human Rights Committee ( ‘QNHRC’)…
Responsible or complicit: a look at Myanmar´s crisis through its business actors, people´s resistance and the international community
Bulgaria’s is instrumentalising its vote for the adoption of the EU Commission proposed negotiation framework for North Macedonia for other purposes, ie in order to advance a political agenda based on historical and cultural claims which are irrelevant to EU requirements for granting the official statute of candidate country to EU accession. Therefore, it can be regarded as violating the aforementioned international fundamental principles by abusing the rights it is enjoying in the Union as well as the EU legal processes applicable to possible enlargement.
Access to the EU and justice denied-How Bulgaria’s actions against North Macedonia amount to abuse of the EU’s accession procedural rules
Bulgaria’s is instrumentalising its vote for the adoption of the EU Commission proposed negotiation framework for North Macedonia for other purposes, ie in order to advance a political agenda based on historical and cultural claims which are irrelevant to EU requirements for granting the official statute of candidate country to EU accession. Therefore, it can be regarded as violating the aforementioned international fundamental principles by abusing the rights it is enjoying in the Union as well as the EU legal processes applicable to possible enlargement.
Corruption and access to justice in international law, Part 1
Coronavirus may be sweeping the globe, but over the past three decades the contagion of corruption has done much to harm public trust in democracy…
2020
The international responsibilities of “de facto authorities” and terrorist organisations in the Yemeni conflict
At the occasion of the 130th Session of the Human Rights Council (12 October 2020 – 6 November 2020), Just Access together with the…