Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday authorized the tribunal’s landmark in absentia hearing, paving the way for trial proceedings against the fugitive Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony to move forward despite his continued evasion of arrest. Judicial proceedings at the ICC are comprised of two phases at the first instance trial [...]
The EU ratified the UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) on Wednesday, joining a global effort to protect the ocean, curb environmental damage, tackle climate change, and preserve biodiversity. Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal, and Slovenia are among the 29 Member States to ratify BBNJ, making it the largest ratification by a group of countries [...]
The European Union (EU) on Wednesday announced that it has lifted economic sanctions on Syria after the toppling of the repressive Assad regime, in an effort to revive the country’s economy. The EU’s decision to lift all of the restrictive measures includes the removal of 24 entities from the list of those subject to the [...]
The UK on Thursday signed an agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back the Diego Garcia military base, critical to the UK and the US, for an average of 101 million pounds per year, to be phased in incrementally over a period of 99 years. Diego Garcia has played a [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called for Libyan judicial authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into claims of human rights abuses after a deadly conflict between Libyan rival armed groups and quasi-state forces. Tensions between rival groups intensified after the May 12 murder of Abdelghani “Ghneiwa” al-Kikli, the commander of Tripoli armed group Stability [...]
Human Rights Watch on Thursday urged China to free the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choki Nyima, and his parents, who were removed from public view in 1995 and have remained missing ever since. As the 30th anniversary of their disappearance approaches on Saturday, human rights advocates have intensified pressure on Beijing to end decades of [...]
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on Tuesday condemned judicial decisions in Brazil that could exclude criminal responsibility in cases of sexual violence against girls and adolescents. The statement follows an alarming two-year trend in which protections for children under the age of 14 have reportedly weakened. This is highlighted by four controversial rulings [...]
The EU Parliament on Wednesday urged a halt to plans for Türkiye’s accession into the EU, stating that the country has failed to address major democratic shortcomings and silenced dissident voices. Members of the EU Parliament (MEPs) have cited fears that Türkiye is well on its way to becoming an authoritarian state after politically motivated [...]
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday criticised the reported proposal of Israeli authorities to deliver humanitarian assistance through military-controlled hubs, which would violate the core principles of neutral, impartial, and independent aid delivery. OCHA reported a day earlier that a large number of civilians were killed and hundreds [...]
UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk on Tuesday appealed to global leaders to take proactive measures in preventing the destruction of critical life-saving support in Gaza. The deadly wave of Israeli attacks that continues to take the lives of innocent civilians, many residing in temporary shelters, and health facilities have posed an obstacle for [...]
