Rule of Law

Although he is not as famous as many other dissident activists of his generation, the physicist Yuri Orlov, who passed away recently, should be remembered as a seminal figure within the broader movement for human rights.

As our grantees, partners, and allies work tirelessly to reduce the damage brought on by the pandemic, we at Open Society are committed to long-term reforms that will address the structural injustices worsened by the virus.

Thanks to an unusually forceful judgment from the EU Court of Justice, the rights of asylum seekers in the EU have been reaffirmed and the dangerous precedent set by Hungary’s government has been challenged.

Through legal empowerment and community-based justice initiatives, the very same people who are suffering the most from the pandemic can be given the tools they need to fight for justice and defend their rights.

A new law proposed by parliament is not only an ominous development for civil society groups in Kyrgyzstan. It’s also a sign of how some governments may use the COVID-19 crisis to push an authoritarian agenda.

To confront the enormous challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Open Society Foundations are committing more than $130 million to support those who are most at risk.

Increasingly, people willing to stand up for environmental and social justice in South Africa are being met with violence. A new Open Society fund will support these brave and vulnerable advocates for change.