05/14/2013: Please join us at the CJA’s 15th Anniversary Dinner Celebrating our Victories in the Movement for Global Justice, at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco. The dinner will include the presentation of CJA's 2013 Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights Award and Champion of Justice Award. Click here for more information.

04/17/2013: The U.S. Supreme Court today issued a disappointing decision in Kiobel v. Shell holding that the Alien Tort Statute does not provide an avenue for justice for the Nigerian human rights abuse victims. Despite this, the splintered opinions leave open the possibility that companies and individuals may still be liable for their abuses in cases with a stronger connection to the U.S. Click here to read the decision.

04/04/2013: In a surprise move, the US DOJ reversed itself and released to the NY Times the immigration decision which found former Salvadoran Defense Minister Vides Casanova responsible for widespread human rights abuses in the 1980s. Earlier in April, the NY Times sued DOJ for its release after a FOIA request was denied. CJA and our clients won a civil suit against the General in 2002 and have vigorously pursued efforts to have him removed. Click here to read the decision and here to read the NY Times article.

04/02/2013: The sexual violence session of the Ríos Montt trial was public, but the witnesses were permitted to cover their faces. CJA is directly supporting the prosecution of Former Guatemalan President General Efraín Ríos Montt for genocide and crimes against humanity. Read more here.

02/25/2013: Former Salvadoran General Jose García admitted in court that he knew of the human rights abuses that were committed by the military in El Salvador between 1979-1983 and that he could not personally “evade responsibility” for these abuses in his position as Defense Minister. Click here to read daily summaries from the trial.

02/21/2013: The Court of Appeals of Port-au-Prince, Haiti began to hear an appeal challenging the dismissal of human rights charges against former Haitian president Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier. CJA authored an amicus brief, signed by 27 other human rights organizations, arguing that Haiti will violate its duties under international and domestic law if it does not move forward with the prosecution. Read more here.

01/18/2013: Yesterday, the U.S. government recognized the government of Somalia for the first time since 1991. If it is going to succeed, the new Somali government must end impunity for war criminals and provide redress to victims. Read CJA statement here.

01/15/2013: Human rights advocates claimed a victory after a federal judge in Boston said he would consider a former El Salvadoran military colonel's alleged war crimes before sentencing him on separate immigration charges. Read more here.

01/11/2013: Today is both the eleventh anniversary of the opening of the Guantánamo prison and the day that "Zero Dark Thirty" premiers nationwide. Before making a decision about whether or not to see "Zero Dark Thirty," please read more.

11/20/2012: A federal court in Ohio found Colonel Magan liable for the torture, arbitrary detention and cruel treatment of CJA client and former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience, Professor Abukar Ahmed (pictured here). Magan was the head of the notorious National Security Service where thousands were unlawfully detained and tortured.

11/02/2012: In a landmark decision, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Samantar's appeal in the first case to consider the "common law immunity" of foreign officials. The decision denies immunity for human rights abuses like torture and extrajudicial killing and denies absolute deference to the executive branch.

09/25/2012: Prominent human rights attorney and long-time CJA partner Mario Joseph is facing an escalating series of threats and harassment against his person and the offices of the Haitian human rights NGO, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI). The threats come as possible retaliation for BAI's human rights claims against former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier and the current government of Michel Martelly. Learn how you can take action to defend Mario Joseph and BAI's important work.

09/14/2012: The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) dismissed Ieng Thirith from the second Khmer Rouge trial on grounds of mental unfitness. Ieng Thirith has been widely believed to have Alzheimer’s disease, affecting her memory and ability to confront evidence against her at trial.

08/28/2012: On August 28, 2012, U.S. Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema awarded $21 million in compensatory and punitive damages against former Somali General Mohamed Ali Samantar. This judgment marks the first time that any Somali government official has been held accountable for the atrocities perpetrated under the Siad Barre regime.