Governments and practitioners have a suite of legal tools at their disposal with which to hold state actors, state proxies, non-state actors, and affiliated entities to account for human rights violations, atrocity crimes, financial abuses, and acts of terrorism, among other offenses. However, despite their potential potency, these tools are often under-utilized.

The Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project injects fresh thinking into how governments and practitioners can apply legal tools to advance human rights and accountability around the world.

In-Depth Research & Reports

Strategic Litigation Project

Report Dec 22, 2023

How to hold the Islamic Republic of Iran accountable in European courts

By Gissou Nia, Celeste Kmiotek, Lisandra Novo, Alyssa T. Yamamoto

While there are no viable domestic routes toward accountability within Iran, national judicial systems in other states present an alternative path to justice. This report examines prospects for initiating prosecutions against IRI perpetrators in European jurisdictions.
Human Rights International Norms
Strategic Litigation Project

Report Oct 5, 2023

International avenues to hold the Islamic Republic of Iran accountable for human rights violations

By Lisandra Novo, Celeste Kmiotek, Elise Baker, Gissou Nia

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s discriminatory domestic legal framework and brutal suppression of dissent have left Iranians looking for international responses to their plight. This report aims to provide an overview of and recommendations relating to international avenues for accountability for atrocity crimes and human-rights violations committed in Iran.
Human Rights International Norms
Strategic Litigation Project

Issue Brief Apr 19, 2023

Holding the Islamic Republic of Iran accountable for atrocity crimes

By Celeste Kmiotek, Alana Mitias, Nushin Sarkarati

Under the principle of universal jurisdiction, certain domestic justice systems allow prosecutions in national courts for crimes committed abroad, regardless of the victim’s or perpetrator’s nationality. This manual outlines the universal jurisdiction process in selected European states for those pursuing prosecutions of crimes committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Human Rights International Norms

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Strategic Litigation Project

New Atlanticist Mar 8, 2024

This International Women’s Day, hold the Taliban to account for gender apartheid

By Azadah Raz Mohammad, Metra Mehran

Gender apartheid must be included as a standalone crime against humanity in international law. The United Nations has an opportunity to make that happen.
Afghanistan Human Rights
Strategic Litigation Project

New Atlanticist Feb 16, 2024

Could the US and other states be implicated in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel?

By Celeste Kmiotek

The International Court of Justice case could inspire proceedings against other states for complicity in or failure to prevent genocide.
Israel South Africa
Strategic Litigation Project

New Atlanticist Jan 26, 2024

Experts react: What the International Court of Justice said (and didn’t say) in the genocide case against Israel

By Atlantic Council experts

South Africa asked the court to order an immediate cease-fire. Israel asked the court to throw out the case. Atlantic Council experts explain what the court did instead.
Conflict Israel

Latest Updates

Strategic Litigation Project

Strategic Litigation Mar 29, 2024

Strategic Litigation Quarterly Newsletter: It’s time for a Syria Victims Fund.

The latest updates on the Strategic Litigation Project’s work advancing human rights and accountability.
Afghanistan Civil Society
Strategic Litigation Project

Strategic Litigation Dec 15, 2023

Strategic Litigation Quarterly Newsletter: Pursuing gender justice through international law

The SLP team has continued and built upon efforts to codify the crime of gender apartheid in international law, including by advocating for its inclusion in the UN Sixth Committee’s draft crimes against humanity treaty.
Afghanistan China
Strategic Litigation Project

Strategic Litigation Oct 2, 2023

Strategic Litigation Quarterly Newsletter: Exploring new and existing paths toward accountability

By the Strategic Litigation Project

SLP has continued to work on an archive documenting open-source evidence of human rights violations in Iran and on engaging with UN member states ahead of the body’s review of China.
China Human Rights

Press Release

Mar 18, 2024

Human rights coalition unveils digital catalog of evidence pointing towards crimes against humanity committed against Iranian protesters

The Archive preserved +1M forensic digital artifacts to support future investigations and trials.

Our Experts

Staff

Gissou Nia

Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Corruption

Staff

Nushin Sarkarati

Deputy Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Corruption Human Rights

Staff

Celeste Kmiotek

Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Americas European Union

Staff

Elise Baker

Senior Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Extremism

Staff

Lisandra Novo

Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Corruption

Staff

Alyssa T. Yamamoto

Senior Legal & Policy Advisor, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Human Rights

Staff

Alana Mitias

Assistant Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Human Rights Middle East

Fellow

Rayhan Asat

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Central Asia China

Fellow

Nizar El Fakih

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Colombia Corruption

Fellow

Haydee Dijkstal

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Corruption

Fellow

Joumana Seif

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Mark Klamberg

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English European Union

Fellow

Mohamad Katoub

Syria Community Liaison Consultant, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Human Rights

Fellow

Ivan Horodyskyy

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Eastern Europe English

Fellow

Akila Radhakrishnan

Strategic Legal Advisor, Gender Justice

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Human Rights International Norms

Fellow

Metra Mehran

Gender and Policy Advisor

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan Civil Society

Fellow

Sareta Ashraph

Senior Legal Advisor

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Azadah Raz Mohammad

Legal Advisor

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan Civil Society

Fellow

Bahar Ghandehari

Junior Policy Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan English

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Featured Events & Recaps

Public Event Wed, March 27, 2024 • 2:00 pm ET

POSTPONED — The rising crackdown on free speech and fundamental rights in Saudi Arabia

Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project hosts a panel discussion about the arbitrary detention of individuals in Saudi Arabia for peaceful expression and legal avenues for accountability.
Civil Society Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights Middle East

Event Recap

Mar 19, 2024

Justice and accountability in the MENA region: The importance of women’s stories

By Charles Johnson

On Wednesday, February 14, the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project hosted a hybrid panel event about the crucial role women and their testimonies play in pursuit of justice and accountability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Human Rights Lebanon
Public Event Wed, February 14, 2024 • 1:00 pm ET

Justice and accountability in the MENA region: The importance of women’s stories

A panel discussion about the crucial role women and their testimonies play in the pursuit of justice in accountability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Human Rights International Norms

New Atlanticist

Sep 25, 2023

China’s ‘crimes against humanity’ targeting Uyghurs aren’t going away. Here’s what the international community can do.

By Atlantic Council

Don’t be fooled by China’s efforts to cover up its oppression of the Uyghur people and other Turkic minorities, human-rights experts warned.

China European Union
Public Event Tue, September 19, 2023 • 3:30 pm ET

From holding the line to a robust international response to the atrocities against the Uyghurs

An event on the margins of the UN General Assembly reflecting and reexamining international action after the UN’s Uyghur report.
Public Event Fri, September 15, 2023 • 9:30 am ET

One year on: The Mahsa Amini protests and the road ahead for Iran

A distinguished group of experts and civil society leaders analyze the anniversary of the ongoing protests prompted by the death of Mahsa Jina Amini.
Human Rights Iran Middle East Resilience & Society
Public Event Fri, October 28, 2022 • 11:30 am ET

A conversation with UN Human Rights Council President Amb. Federico Villegas

A discussion to examine the increased relevance of the UN Human Rights Council, its abilities, and the path forward.
China Europe & Eurasia Human Rights International Norms

Event Recap

Mar 17, 2023

Prioritizing response and recovery for US persons wrongfully detained abroad

By Britt Gronemeyer and Alana Mitias

On February 15, the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project held a discussion about the United States’ approach to cases of wrongful detentions abroad, how strategies can be improved, and ways to better support the families of those detained.

Eastern Europe Indo-Pacific
Public Event Wed, February 15, 2023 • 12:30 pm ET

Prioritizing response and recovery for US persons wrongfully detained abroad

A panel discussion about the US approach to prevention of and accountability for wrongful detentions of US persons abroad.
Eastern Europe Human Rights Indo-Pacific International Norms