Weekly News Recap (26 January – 1 February 2026) © Photo by United Nations Photo via Flickr International Justice Section ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Rules Duterte Fit to Stand Trial ICC:...
Weekly News Recap (30 September - 6 October 2024)
© Photo by Stortinget via Flickr
- Thailand: Court Orders Extradition of Vietnamese Activist in Violation of Non-Refoulement Principle
- IACtHR: Legal Application Filed Regarding Violations of Rights to Judicial Guarantees and Freedom of Expression in Paraguay
- Germany: Court Rules Federal Police Surveillance Law Partially Unconstitutional
- Cambodia: Court Charges Journalist for Inciting Unrest
- CJEU: Discriminatory Measures Imposed on Women Under Taliban Regime Amount To Acts Of Persecution
- ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber I Unseals Six Arrest Warrants Regarding Libya Situation
- ICJ: Public Hearings Concluded Concerning Land and Maritime Delimitation and Island Sovereignty Dispute between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea
- CJEU: Court Invalidates Agreements with Morocco over Lack of Western Sahara Consent
International Peace & Security Section
US: Government Approves $567 Million in Defence Aid for Taiwan
UN: Security Council Extends Haiti Security Mission for One Year
Israel: Israel Defence Forces Launch Ground Invasion in Southern Lebanon
Israel: Government Bans UN Secretary General From Entering Country
Gaza: Fawzia Amin Sido Reunited with Family after a Decade of Captivity
UK: Government Decides to Transfer Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
Russia: Law Enacted Exempting Military Service Defendants from Criminal Liability
Taiwan: Two Chinese Nationals Deported for Harassing Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protesters
- Pakistan: Lockdown Enforced in Islamabad During Anti-Government Protest
International Justice Section
Thailand: Court Orders Extradition of Vietnamese Activist in Violation of Non-Refoulement Principle
On 30 September 2024, a Bangkok court ordered the extradition of Vietnamese political activist Y Quynh Bdap to Vietnam, sparking criticism from human rights groups. Bdap, who had sought asylum at the Canadian embassy, is facing a 10-year prison sentence in Vietnam for alleged involvement in the Dak Lak riots, which resulted in the deaths of nine people, including police officers and government officials. Human rights organisations argue that the extradition violates international law, specifically the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending individuals to countries where their lives may be in danger. The UN special rapporteur on Human Rights and Counterterrorism, Ben Saul, submitted a legal brief asserting that the charges against Bdap are an abuse of terrorism laws to target civil society and activists. He also emphasised that Bdap qualifies as a refugee under international law, meaning Thailand should not deport him to Vietnam, where he faces persecution. Human Rights Watch and other groups have criticised Vietnam’s repression of dissent and minorities. Despite the court’s ruling, Bdap’s lawyer mentioned that Thailand’s government could potentially halt the extradition through diplomatic means.
IACtHR: Legal Application Filed Regarding Violations of Rights to Judicial Guarantees and Freedom of Expression in Paraguay
On 30 September 2024, it was reported that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) submitted a legal case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) against Paraguay, citing violations of journalist Aldo Zuccolillo Moscarda’s rights to freedom of expression and judicial guarantees. The case dates back to 1998 when politician Juan Carlos Galaverna sued Zuccolillo, then editor-in-chief of ABC Color, for libel, defamation, and slander. After several court rulings, Paraguay’s Supreme Court fined Zuccolillo, but the IACHR found that this violated his rights. The IACHR’s investigation concluded that Zuccolillo’s reporting on alleged corruption, a matter of public interest, was protected under freedom of expression. It also highlighted that Zuccolillo was unfairly punished under laws that were applied retroactively, violating the principles of legality and non-retroactivity. The IACHR further criticised the lengthy seven-year legal process and the lack of clear reasoning for the fines imposed. In response, the IACHR recommended reparations for Zuccolillo’s widow and daughters, the annulment of his criminal punishment, a public apology, and legal reforms in Paraguay to protect freedom of expression in line with the American Convention on Human Rights.
Germany: Court Rules Federal Police Surveillance Law Partially Unconstitutional
On 1 October 2024, Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court passed its ruling on the constitutional complaint of the Society for Civil Rights e.V. (Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V. or “GFF”) against the Federal Criminal Police Office Act (BKA Act). The GFF alleged that the anti-terrorist surveillance and personal data retention rights of the BKA Act are unconstitutional under the Basic Law. The BKA Act established the BKA, Germany’s central criminal investigation agency, which is primarily responsible for coordinating state and federal investigations. It has a police information network in the form of a data platform that state and federal police may use. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled that specific parts of the BKA Act are unconstitutional. Namely, the BKA’s ability to retain previously collected basic personal information interferes with the fundamental right to informational self-determination. The ruling states that such retention of information is only permitted if the individual has been assessed to be sufficiently likely to be connected to potential crimes and that the data retention would contribute to the prevention and prosecution of those crimes. Additionally, the Court also ruled that covert data collection on individuals linked to terrorism suspects is unconstitutional, the invasiveness of the measure and low threshold for applicability is disproportionate.
Cambodia: Court Charges Journalist for Inciting Unrest
On 1 October 2024, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged Mr. Mech Dara for “incitement to disturb social security” under the Cambodian Criminal Code, which has a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Dara was arrested by military police the same day, following his social media posts with photos of apparent damage to Ba Phnom, a sacred mountain near a Buddhist pagoda. Local authorities called for legal action against Dara, accusing him of inciting social unrest and spreading misinformation. Dara was awarded the US State Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report Hero Award for his reporting on human trafficking-cyber scam criminal networks in Cambodia. His exposés brought international attention to cyber scam “factories” that use forced labour and human trafficking to coerce victims into conducting online scams. In response to his arrest, several human rights advocates and NGOs published a joint statement requesting the Cambodian government to drop all charges. However, the Cambodian Ministry of Information responded by issuing a statement claiming that Dara’s arrest was not related to his journalist work and warned them against promoting misinformation about Cambodia’s freedom of press.
CJEU: Discriminatory Measures Imposed on Women Under Taliban Regime Amount To Acts Of Persecution
On 4 October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) published its judgment in Joined Cases C-608/22 and C-609/22, Bundesamt für Fremdenwesen und Asyl and Others (Afghan Women). Two women with Afghan citizenship requested refugee status in Austria, stating that the discriminatory measures against women under the Taliban regime justifies their refugee status. The case went to the Austrian Supreme Administrative Court, which requested a legally binding preliminary ruling from the CJEU. The CJEU defined an act of persecution as a serious breach of fundamental human rights. As an example, it considered that acts of forced marriage are comparable to a form of slavery, thereby constituting acts of persecution. The Court then went on to state that, even if individual acts or measures do not constitute serious breaches of a fundamental right, those acts as a whole may constitute such a breach. Where discriminatory measures are deliberate, systematic, and have cumulative effect, they may, as a whole, qualify as persecution. The CJEU further agreed with the applicants’ stance that, considering the situation of women under the Taliban regime, which is robustly shown by reports from the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Member States may sidestep the requirement of establishing individual and specific risk of refugee applicants for persecution upon return to their country of origin. Therefore, Austria may consider the applicants entitled to a refugee status on the basis of their Afghani nationality and gender alone.
https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2024-10/cp240167en.pdf
ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber I Unseals Six Arrest Warrants Regarding Libya Situation
On 4 October 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorised the unsealing of six arrest warrants related to the situation in Libya. These warrants, issued earlier in 2023, target six individuals: Abdurahem Khalefa Abdurahem Elshgagi (Al Khani), Makhlouf Makhlouf Arhoumah Doumah (Douma), Nasser Muhammad Muftah Daou (Al Lahsa), Mohamed Mohamed Al Salheen Salmi (Salheen), Abdelbari Ayyad Ramadan Al Shaqaqi (Al Shaqaqi), and Fathi Faraj Mohamed Salim Al Zinkal (Al Zinkal). They are accused of committing war crimes in Tarhunah, including murder, torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, sexual violence, and rape. This ICC investigation into the situation in Libya began after the United Nations Security Council referred the case to the ICC on 26 February 2011, leading to the Prosecutor opening an official investigation in March of that year.
https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/libya-situation-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-unseals-six-arrest-warrants
ICJ: Public Hearings Concluded Concerning Land and Maritime Delimitation and Island Sovereignty Dispute between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea
On 4 October 2024, the public hearings in the case concerning the Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands dispute between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea concluded. The hearings, which began on 30 September 2024, involved two rounds of oral arguments. Equatorial Guinea’s delegation was led by HE Mr. Domingo Mba Esono, Minister Delegate of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development, while Gabon’s delegation was led by HE Ms. Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, Honorary President of the Constitutional Court. Final submissions were made by Equatorial Guinea on 3 October and Gabon on 4 October. The Court will now deliberate, and its decision will be announced at a future public sitting, with the date to be determined.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/179/179-20241004-pre-01-00-en.pdf
CJEU: Court Invalidates Agreements with Morocco over Lack of Western Sahara Consent
On 4 October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that the fisheries and agricultural agreements between the EU and Morocco, established five years ago, did not involve the necessary consent from the people of Western Sahara. The CJEU found that the agreements, signed without consulting the local population, violated international principles of self-determination. Western Sahara, a phosphate-rich territory on the Atlantic coast, has been a subject of conflict since Morocco annexed it in 1975. The court’s decision stresses the need for future agreements to obtain explicit consent from Western Sahara’s inhabitants, impacting how the EU and Morocco negotiate subsequent treaties. The ruling, which dismissed appeals by EU institutions, has been welcomed by the Polisario Front, representing Western Sahara, as a significant victory for the region’s independence efforts. This judicial decision underscores the distinct status of Western Sahara and Morocco and challenges Morocco’s territorial claims.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/morocco-ap-western-sahara-united-nations-brussels-b2623928.html
International Peace & Security Section
US: Government Approves $567 Million in Defence Aid for Taiwan
On 30 September 2024, it was reported the US had approved a $567 million defence aid package for Taiwan. This comes as the US is trying to improve Taiwan’s military in light of rising tensions with China. The US is an important backer of Taiwan, supplying them with arms, much to the frustration of China, who has demanded the US stop selling weapons to Taipei. The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden had authorised the Secretary of State to grant $567 million in defence aid from the Department of Defence to Taiwan. China views self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory, and over the last several years, has intensified military and political pressure to double down on this stance. Taiwan rejects this claim and sees itself independent from China.
UN: Security Council Extends Haiti Security Mission for One Year
On 30 September 2024, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to extend the international security mission fighting gangs in Haiti for another year. However, a US led proposal to transition it into a UN peacekeeping mission was dropped from the resolution after pushback from Russia and China. The head of Haiti’s transition council, Edgard Leblanc, called for a UN peacekeeping mission to be deployed in Haiti during an address to the General Assembly last week. Leaders in Haiti have expressed concern of the worsening insecurity, with gangs armed with weapons controlling most of the capital city, arms mainly trafficked from the US. Haiti’s UN Ambassador, Antonio Rodrigue, expressed the need to transform the security mission into a peacekeeping mission as “a matter of urgency.” While the current security mission is approved by the UN Security Council, it is not a UN-run operation, and relies on voluntary contributions. So far, the mission has made little progress in tackling violent gangs, with only 400 Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti. China and Russia stated the international security mission should be given more time. Deputy UN Ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said it would be “premature to discuss changing the mission.” He added there is a need to counter smuggling of American weapons which have flooded into Haiti. Gangs in Haiti are under a UN arms embargo. UN peacekeepers were deployed in Haiti from 2004-2017, after a rebellion against then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Many Haitians are wary of an armed UN presence. The mission was tarnished by allegations of sexual abuse by UN forces as well as a deadly cholera outbreak caused by peacekeepers, more than 9,000 people died from the disease and 800,000 fell ill.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/un-authorizes-haiti-security-force-another-year-2024-09-30/
NATO: Mark Rutte Takes Over As New NATO Chief
On 1 October 2024, Mark Rutte officially became the new Secretary General of NATO after a handover ceremony in Brussels. Rutte takes over from Jens Stoltenberg, who held the position as leader since 2014. In his first press conference as Secretary General, Rutte urged all allies to increase defence spending in order to meet challenges facing the alliance. Rutte outlined ending the war in Ukraine is essential to peace and security in Europe. He also stated the alliance must increase cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners. There is worry among NATO members over the looming US presidential election. In his first spell as leader, former President Donald Trump insisted members increase defence spending, while also casting doubts on NATO’s fundamental principle of collective security. However, Rutte downplayed worries, stating that he knows both candidates in the US election and he previously worked with Trump when he was Dutch Prime Minister. Upon his appointment, leaders of NATO ally countries expressed confidence in Rutte’s ability to lead the alliance. Meanwhile, Russia stated the appointment of Rutte suggests there will be no significant changes to NATO policy.
https://www.dw.com/en/mark-rutte-takes-over-as-nato-chief/a-70371118
Israel: Israel Defence Forces Launch Ground Invasion in Southern Lebanon
On 1 October 2024, Israel launched a ground invasion in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) described it as “limited, localised and targeted” attacks against Hezbollah, to target the groups infrastructure, which they say presents an “immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.” Israel has ordered the immediate evacuation of residents in around 25 villages in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack Lebanon with airstrikes. Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, stated the country was encountering one of the most dangerous periods in its history. During a meeting with UN organisations, Mikati made an urgent call for more aid. Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in a strike on Friday. Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, stated the death of Nasrallah is an important step, but it is not everything, indicating that Israel’s onslaught against Hezbollah is not yet over. Lebanese officials estimate more than 1,000 people have been killed over the past two weeks, with approximately one million people now displaced.
Israel: Government Bans UN Secretary General From Entering Country
On 2 October 2024, Israel banned UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, from entering the country. In a statement Foreign Affairs Minister, Israel Katz, declared the Secretary General ‘persona non grata’ in Israel. In recent months, other UN officials have also been banned from entering Israel, including UN Special Rapporteur for Palestinians Francesca Albanese, who was accused of supporting the Palestinians. Also, in August, the UN humanitarian office chief in the occupied Palestinian Territory stated Israel did not extend his visa because of a UN report accusing Israel of violating the rights of Palestinian children. Israel has also criticised the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Israel’s Foreign Minister justified the decision to ban Guterres because he did not “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s airstrikes on Israel, and also for not describing Hamas as a terrorist group. Tensions across the region have heightened, Israel’s war in Gaza is now approaching the one-year mark with over 41,600 people killed.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-bars-un-secretary-general-from-entering-country/3349154
Gaza: Fawzia Amin Sido Reunited with Family after a Decade of Captivity
On 3 October 2024, Yazidi woman, Fawzia Amin Sido, was rescued after a decade of captivity by Islamic State. Sido was kidnapped at the age of eleven and has finally been rescued. According to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), the captor had been killed in an airstrike in Gaza during the ongoing war. The Yazidi woman, identified as Fawzia Amin Sido, was freed during a complex operation between Israel, the US and other international actors and then taken to Iraq. Several earlier attempts to rescue Sido over the course of four months failed because of the security situation in Gaza. Sido has been reported in good physical condition, but has been severely traumatised.
UK: Government Decides to Transfer Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
On 3 October 2024, the United Kingdom announced its decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending over 50 years of British control. This historic agreement, made with Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, includes maintaining the military base on Diego Garcia under British sovereignty for another 99 years. The UK will support Mauritius with a financial package to enhance economic development and tackle environmental and security challenges in the region. The agreement also facilitates the resettlement of the Chagossians, addressing past wrongs by establishing a trust fund for their benefit. This resolution follows a 2019 UN directive and an advisory from the International Court of Justice, which found the UK’s control of the islands to be illegal and called for their return to Mauritius.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-between-uk-and-mauritius-3-october-2024
Russia: Law Enacted Exempting Military Service Defendants from Criminal Liability
On 2 October 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law new legislation that exempts individuals engaged in military service from criminal liability. Approved by the State Duma in September 2024, the law allows criminal proceedings to be paused or terminated for those who enter military service during mobilisation or wartime. The amendments impact both the Federal Law on military duty and military service and the Russian Criminal Code, allowing contracts to be signed with defendants currently facing trial. Full legal exemption can be achieved upon receiving a state award or after discharge from service. This legal shift could potentially affect around 20,000 detainees and 40% of those facing military-related charges, as per local news reports. This initiative continues the expansion of legal provisions that began in 2023, allowing individuals under legal scrutiny to bypass conventional criminal processes through military service.
Taiwan: Two Chinese Nationals Deported for Harassing Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protesters
On 3 October 2024, Taiwan deported two Chinese nationals on Thursday after they disrupted a pro-democracy event in Taipei organised by Hong Kong residents. The couple, identified by the surname Yao and his wife, were expelled for violating immigration regulations following their involvement in a confrontation at the event. The October 1st event in Taipei’s Ximending area aimed to commemorate China’s National Day and featured a pro-Hong Kong independence flag, which Yao seized and threw to the ground, sparking a dispute. Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency found that the couple had entered the country under false pretences, as the family member they claimed to visit had already returned to China. Their entry permits were revoked, and they were deported under regulations prohibiting actions that undermine Taiwan’s dignity and equality. This incident follows China’s introduction of strict penalties, including the death penalty, for those supporting Taiwan’s independence. In September, a Hong Kong activist was sentenced to 14 months in prison for wearing a shirt with a pro-democracy slogan, similar to the one involved in the Taipei event.
Pakistan: Lockdown Enforced in Islamabad During Anti-Government Protest
On 4 October 2024, Pakistan enforced a lockdown in Islamabad, including a cell phone service blackout, to prevent an anti-government protest organised by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The city invoked Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, banning public gatherings to maintain order, with violations punishable by fines or imprisonment. The protest was organised by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to oppose his imprisonment and planned constitutional amendments. Despite Khan’s call for peaceful protests via social media, authorities implemented strict measures, including the closure of schools, heightened security, suspension of mobile services, and a ban on double riding. Over 400 arrests were made, including Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, for attempting to participate in the rally. Amnesty International condemned the restrictions, criticising roadblocks and communication shutdowns as violations of fundamental rights like freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The human rights organisation also called out Pakistan’s recently enacted Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, which criminalises unpermitted protests, as a further infringement on the right to peaceful assembly.
Weekly News Recap (19 – 25 January 2026) © Photo by Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan via Wikimedia Commons International Justice Section Greece: 24 Aid...
Weekly News Recap (12 – 18 January 2026) © Photo by Phillip Pessar via Flickr International Justice Section Austria: Rights Group Files Criminal Complaint in Austria Over Gaza War Crimes...
Weekly News Recap (5 – 11 January 2026) © Photo by Kurdishstruggle via Flickr International Justice Section Nigeria: Former Justice Minister Granted Bail in Graft Case Bosnia and Herzegovina: New...