Diplomatic Immunity: A Reckoning builds on a 2023 cross-border investigation supported by the Pulitzer Center and JournalismFund Europe, which exposed how diplomatic immunity has been used to shield diplomats accused of exploiting migrant domestic workers. The original reporting created a global database of abuse cases and included on-the-ground reporting from key diplomatic hubs such as Geneva, New York, and The Hague.
Since publication, two major legal developments have shifted the landscape. In October 2025, Swiss courts ruled that diplomatic immunity cannot be used as a defense in cases involving migrant domestic workers—marking a significant precedent tied to a case featured in the original investigation. In January 2026, U.K. courts ordered the United Arab Emirates to pay GBP 270,000 in damages to a Filipino domestic worker in a landmark exploitation case.
This follow-up project combines reporting and impact-driven storytelling. It includes field reporting in Geneva and the U.K., alongside the production of accessible explainer videos and multilingual informational materials in English, Filipino, and Spanish. A key component involves collaboration with migrant domestic workers who are also content creators, equipping them through workshops to share crucial legal information within their communities.
By centering accessibility and community-led dissemination, the project aims to ensure these legal breakthroughs reach and empower those most affected.
