Guide on strategic litigation for lawyers and civil society organizations: Strategies to end immigration detention of children through international remedies

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has published the Guide on strategic litigation for lawyers and civil society organizations: Strategies to end immigration detention of children through international remedies aimed at strengthening protection of children against immigration detention and promoting rights-compliant alternatives. The Guide is intended for lawyers, civil society organizations (CSOs) and other actors engaging or considering engagement in strategic human rights litigation.

The Guide explains strategic litigation as the use of legal action to achieve change beyond an individual case and emphasizes that such  litigation must be conducted in full compliance with children’s rights, including the requirement that the best interests of the child be a primary consideration. It provides an overview of international and EU human rights bodies and mechanisms available when effective remedies cannot be secured at national level, including judicial and non-judicial procedures.

It includes practical information on mandates, admissibility requirements, procedures, interim measures, and follow-up as well as litigation strategies and advocacy approaches, which may increase the impact of strategic litigation.