© Photo by United Nations Photo via Flickr
International Peace & Security Section
Sudan: UN Agency Reports Rape Used as Weapon of War in Sudan
Pakistan: Nearly 60,000 Afghans Forcibly Deported from Pakistan since April
Somalia: Al Shabaab Terrorist Group Captures Strategic Town in Somalia
Haiti: Ongoing Situation Could Lead to Regional and International Instability
Congo: UN Calls For Conflict Resolution Amidst Escalating Violence
Hungary: LGBTQ+ Public Events Banned in Constitutional Amendment
On 14 April 2025, Hungary’s National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that bans LGBTQ+ public events and further restricts transgender rights. Backed by the ruling far-right Fidesz-KDNP party, the amendment passed with 140 votes in favour and 21 against. It codifies the 2021 Child Protection Law, which prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of LGBTQ+ content to minors and was used to ban Budapest Pride last month. The amendment defines legal sex as immutable – recognising only male and female genders – and states the government’s duty is to uphold the “natural order,” effectively denying recognition of gender reassignment. It also allows revoking citizenship from dual nationals outside the European Economic Area if deemed a public threat. Government officials claim the measure is about legal clarity, not self-expression. However, rights groups and EU institutions have condemned Hungary’s ongoing crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, with Human Rights Watch citing increasing discrimination and the European Parliament declaring Hungary no longer a full democracy. The issue is set to be addressed in an EU plenary session later this month.
UK: 15 Individuals Charged Over Election Date Betting Scandal
On 14 April 2025, the UK Gambling Commission charged 15 individuals – many with ties to public office – with using confidential information about election dates to gain an unfair advantage in the betting market. The charges follow a June 2024 investigation into claims that the individuals used advance knowledge of the proposed election date to place bets illegally. The accused include Craig Williams, a former aide to ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and several members of the Metropolitan Police and Conservative Party affiliates. The Conservative Party is reportedly withdrawing support from Williams. The charges fall under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, which prohibits cheating in gambling, defined as deception or interference in the gambling process. Those found guilty face up to two years in prison and/or a fine. The accused are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 June 2025. Additional charges, including Misconduct in Public Office, may still follow.
Belgium: Calls for Prime Minister to Arrest Netanyahu
On 15 April 2025, the Belgian NGO 11.11.11 projected the message “Arrest war criminals” onto the façade of Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s office at Rue de la Loi 16 in Brussels. This act was in protest against De Wever’s recent comments suggesting that Belgium would “probably not” enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Willem Staes, Middle East expert at 11.11.11, criticised De Wever’s stance, asserting that it undermines the international rules-based order. He emphasised that international law should not be selectively applied and that all alleged war criminals, regardless of their nation’s status, must be prosecuted. De Wever’s rationale – that arresting a leader from another democracy would be unprecedented – was deemed “deeply flawed” by the NGO, which highlighted that the Rome Statute explicitly denies immunity to sitting heads of state. The protest also drew attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where recent developments include the discovery of a mass grave containing 16 aid workers and Israel’s plans to expand military buffer zones. 11.11.11 called on Belgian authorities to uphold international justice by enforcing the ICC’s arrest warrant and taking further actions to address the situation in Gaza.
Peru: Former President Humala and Wife Sentenced to 15 Years for Corruption
On 15 April 2025, a Peruvian court sentenced former President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, to 15 years in prison and nearly US$3 million in civil reparation for aggravated money laundering. The couple was found guilty of receiving illegal funds from Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez and the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht to finance Humala’s 2006 and 2011 election campaigns. Humala was immediately taken into custody after the ruling. Heredia, who was absent from court, sought political asylum in Brazil hours before the verdict and is currently there under diplomatic protection with her son. Although the full reading of the verdict is scheduled for 29 April 2025, the court ordered the sentence’s immediate execution – prompting legal debate. Critics argue the move may violate Peru’s Constitutional Procedural Code, which requires full judgment reading before enforcement. The case is part of the wider Odebrecht scandal, which has shaken Peru’s political elite. Since 2015, the investigation has led to 65 convictions and over US$1.2 billion in civil reparation claims. Legal experts say the verdict sets an important precedent for defining money laundering in Peru’s justice system.
ICC: Formal Proceedings Initiated Against Hungary
On 16 April 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) initiated formal proceedings against Hungary for failing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his official visit to Budapest from 3 to 6 April 2025. Despite an active ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, Hungary welcomed Netanyahu, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán openly defying the court’s mandate. Orbán criticised the ICC as a political institution and announced Hungary’s intention to withdraw from the Court, a move that would make it the first European Union member to do so. The ICC, invoking Article 87(7) of the Rome Statute, referred Hungary’s non-compliance to the Assembly of States Parties and the United Nations Security Council. Hungarian officials argued that the Rome Statute was never fully incorporated into national law, a justification previously rejected by the ICC. The Court has given Hungary until 23 May 2025 to present its defence. This incident underscores the challenges the ICC faces in enforcing its mandates, especially when member states question its legitimacy.
UK: Government Blocks Efforts to Arrest Israeli Foreign Minister
On 16 April 2025, United Kingdom (UK) authorities blocked an attempt to arrest Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar during his visit to London. Human rights organisations, including the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), submitted an application for an arrest warrant, accusing Sa’ar of complicity in war crimes in Gaza due to his role in Israel’s security cabinet and public statements. The UK Foreign Office characterised Sa’ar’s trip as a “private” visit, during which he met with Foreign Secretary David Lammy to discuss Middle East issues, including the Gaza conflict. The decision not to pursue the arrest warrant has drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates, who argue that it undermines the UK’s commitment to international law and accountability. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between diplomatic relations and the enforcement of international legal standards concerning alleged war crimes.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/16/israeli-foreign-minister-david-lammy-uk-foreign-office
US: Advocacy Group Files Claim Against Israeli Soldier Alleging War Crimes
On 17 April 2025, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Brussels-based pro-Palestinian advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in the United States (US) against Israeli soldier Yuval Shatel, accusing him of war crimes and genocide committed in Gaza. The complaint, lodged in a US court, invokes Title 18 of the United States Code sections 2441 (war crimes), 371 (conspiracy to defraud the U.S.), and 1091 (genocide). HRF reported that Shatel was last seen in Texas four days prior and is currently unaccounted for, expressing concerns over his potential flight risk. This legal action is part of HRF’s broader campaign to hold Israeli military personnel accountable for alleged atrocities in Gaza. In October 2024, the foundation filed a comprehensive complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against 1,000 Israeli soldiers, supported by over 8,000 pieces of evidence, including videos, audio recordings, and forensic reports. HRF has also pursued cases in Germany and Argentina against Israeli soldiers accused of similar crimes. Named after six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed during an Israeli military operation in Gaza, the foundation aims to seek justice for victims and end impunity for alleged war crimes.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/04/17/746364/Hind-Rajab-Foundation-files-case-Israeli-USA
Russia: Removes Taliban from Terrorist List, Seeks Closer Ties
On 17 April 2025, Russia’s Supreme Court officially removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations, ending a 20-year designation. The Foreign Ministry confirmed the move aims to build a “full-fledged partnership” with Afghanistan’s rulers, focusing on cooperation against drug trafficking, terrorism, and boosting economic ties. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, leading to UN sanctions – including asset freezes and travel bans – that remain in force under Security Council Resolutions 2615 and 2744. Russia stated it will continue to comply with these UN sanctions despite the domestic reclassification. Critics highlight the Taliban’s human rights abuses, especially toward women. Human Rights Watch describes the situation as the “world’s most serious women’s rights crisis.” The decision marks a major shift in Russian policy, originally classifying the Taliban as a terrorist group in 2003 over jihadist threats in Central Asia and the North Caucasus.
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/4/17/russia-suspends-ban-on-taliban
Haiti: Approves ‘War Time Budget’ As Gang Violence Surges
On 14 April 2025, Haiti’s transitional government approved a “war time budget” to tackle the ongoing crisis in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs have taken control of almost the entire city and surrounding regions. In a statement, Haiti’s transitional government said the 36 billion gourdes (US$275.86 million) budget will be used to strengthen security forces, secure the border and support social programmes. Nearly 40% of the funds will be allocated to Haiti’s police and military, while approximately 20% will go to strengthening the shared border with the Dominican Republic. A further 16% will support social programmes, in areas such as education, health and humanitarian assistance. However, this extra money is not anticipated to be enough to resolve the funding shortfalls and lack of resources of the UN-backed mission, led by Kenyan police, which is struggling to regain control of the city. National Human Rights Defence Network, a local rights group, reported a powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm have recently made gains in Haiti’s central region and seized control of the towns of Mirebalais and Saut d’Eau. The group criticised the transitional government’s lack of action, stating that “by ignoring the (central region’s) collapse the transitional authorities show they have no real plan to restore citizens’ rights and public safety,” while also criticising the lack of a statewide response. Since the start of the year, the UN mission reports over 1,500 people have been killed in Haiti, while another 572 people injured. In recent years, gang violence has displaced at least 1 million people.
Sudan: EU and UK Pledge over €622 Million in Aid for Sudan
On 15 April 2025, the EU and the UK pledged to increase aid for Sudan. The announcement comes ahead of a conference in London marking the second anniversary of the Sudan war, aimed to “improve the coherence of the international response to the crisis.” The war in Sudan began in April 2023 after fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The violent conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, and regions like Darfur devastated. The EU has pledged over €522 million (US$592 million) in increased aid for Sudan while the UK announced an extra £120 million (US$158 million). UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said the international community must strongly encourage the warring parties to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid into Sudan. The conference is being co-hosted by the African Union, UK, EU, France and Germany. Other attendees include Egypt, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates. Sudan’s foreign minister has expressed frustration over no representatives from either side of the conflict being invited to the conference, while also criticising the attendance of the United Arab Emirates and Kenya. Sudan has accused the UAE of supplying weapons to the RSF, a claim that has been considered credible by UN experts and US lawmakers. Sudan has brought the matter to the International Court of Justice. The UAE has denied the claim and asked for the case to be dismissed. Sudan has also recalled its ambassador to Kenya after the country hosted discussions between the RSF and its allies to form an alternative government. It is hoped the conference will bring attention to the conflict and those in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
https://www.reuters.com/world/britain-boosts-aid-victims-sudan-conflict-conference-2025-04-14/
Armenia: Calls on Azerbaijan to Investigate Ceasefire Violations Amidst Increase in Cross-Border Clashes
On 15 April 2025, Armenia called on Azerbaijan to investigate ceasefire violations along their shared border amid an increase in cross-border clashes. On 13 March 2025, Armenia and Azerbaijan stated they had reached an agreement on the text of a peace treaty aimed at ending nearly 40 years of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. However, the treaty remains unsigned, and since the text was agreed, officials from both sides have documented a substantial increase in ceasefire violations, with 26 incidents reported since March. The majority of the accusations have come from Azerbaijan, with President Ilham Aliyev hinting at the possibility of renewed military action if Armenia does not sign a peace treaty. On Monday, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of firing at the border village of Khnatsakh, resulting in damage to the village’s cultural centre. In response, Azerbaijan called the report “disinformation.” On Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, called on Azerbaijan to investigate the violations, either in collaboration with Armenia or with international participation and to take measures to stop them. In his speech, Pashinyan said that the incidents were “either a consequence of indiscipline in the armed forces of Azerbaijan, or are aimed at exerting psychological pressure on the population.” In 2023, Azerbaijan reclaimed the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which resulted in the departure of nearly all of the 100,000 ethnic Armenians in the territory. Both countries have said they are willing to sign a peace treaty to end the conflict, but negotiations have progressed at a slow pace. Azerbaijan has stated it will not sign an agreement until Armenia amends its constitution to remove a reference to Karabakh, with such changes not expected to take place until 2026.
Sudan: UN Agency Reports Rape Used as Weapon of War in Sudan
On 15 April 2025, Anna Mutavati, the regional director of UN Women, said they have observed a 288% increase in the demand for life saving support for survivors of rape and sexual violence. She noted they are starting to see “the systematic use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war,” and further explained that “women’s bodies have turned into a battleground.” The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023. Mutavati described their findings as “just the tip of the iceberg” as many people are reluctant to come forward out of fear and victim blaming that is associated with woman that have been subjected to sexual violence and rape. Last year, a UN fact-finding mission described levels of sexual abuse, including child rape, as “staggering.” The majority of known cases were committed by the RSF, while the mission noted it was more difficult to report in army-controlled regions. Head of the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) mission in Sudan, Mohamed Refaat, said he met women in Khartoum who were sexually assaulted in front of their husbands and children, and added the accounts he heard were from women who had suffered extreme levels of abuse.
Pakistan: Nearly 60,000 Afghans Forcibly Deported from Pakistan since April
On 15 April 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 60,000 Afghans have been forcibly deported from Pakistan since the start of April. In October, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a three-phase plan to send nearly three million Afghans in Pakistan back to their home country. Now in the second phase of the plan, the IOM stated it had recorded a sharp increase in forced returns, with nearly 60,000 reported to have crossed into Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border points in April. Chief of Mission for Afghanistan, Mihyung Park, said the influx of returns has meant the demands on the ground have increased rapidly, both at the border and in the regions that are struggling to accommodate the large number of returnees. In March, Pakistan set an early April deadline for over 800,000 individuals with Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) to depart the country. Many Afghans living in Pakistan have been there for years after escaping successive conflicts and following the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021. Pakistan issued the deportation order following an increase in armed attacks throughout the country, with the government asserting groups based in Afghanistan were responsible, however the Taliban government in Afghanistan denied the allegations. Pakistan is not signed up to the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention, which safeguards the rights of refugees. Also, the country does not have domestic laws to protect refugees or the necessary procedures to assess the status of those seeking international protection in the country.
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/4/15/pakistan-accelerates-deportation-of-afghans-un
Gaza: Health System Pushed Into Further Danger
On 15 April 2025, another Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza has now made the already limited access to lifesaving medical care even more vulnerable. Several staff members, including two nurses, were injured in the strike on the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in Khan Younis according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The attack followed a separate strike on Sunday on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, which had been a key facility treating victims of Israeli airstrikes in the north. There are already very few beds available in hospitals and patients are being accommodated in tents, according to UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric. He added that, according to the WHO, only 21 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially functional and almost all have taken some damage in the conflict. This puts the Gaza health system in an even further vulnerable situation. Thousands of blood units are desperately needed as well as food warehouses have reached low levels.
Somalia: Al Shabaab Terrorist Group Captures Strategic Town in Somalia
On 16 April 2025, it was reported al Shabaab militants had seized the town of Adan Yabaal in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region after heavy fighting with the Somali army. The town is of strategic military importance as the Somali government used it as a base for conducting attacks against al Shabaab. Adan Yabaal is located about 245 km (150 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu, and recent attacks by al Shabaab on villages near the capital have raised fears the group could target the city. Al Shabaab, an affiliate of al Qaeda, has been fighting an insurgency since 2007, attempting to gain power and govern according to its strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. The recent clashes come at a time when the future of international security assistance to Somalia has become increasingly uncertain. At the start of the year, a new African Union peacekeeping mission replaced a larger force, but its source of funding remains unclear, with the US against a plan to move to a UN funding model.
Haiti: Ongoing Situation Could Lead to Regional and International Instability
On 16 April 2025, the Director General of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, explained that the situation in Haiti is one of the most complex and urgent crises in the world with implications for regional and global stability. In Haiti, gangs are expanding their control and public institutions are facing intense pressure, while humanitarian aid is becoming much harder to deliver as funding is declining drastically, and over one million people are currently internally displaced. Pope met with Haitian government officials, hoping to identify ways to reinforce migration governance, broaden access to legal documentation and strengthen the reintegration of Haitian returnees, as nearly 200,000 Haitians were deported back from neighbouring countries, adding pressure to resources already under strain. Recent funding cuts have forced the IOM to halt some of its operations in the Caribbean island. This kind of inaction has immense costs and consequences which will only be measured in lives lost, but also in broader instability that will affect us all in the face of international migration.
Congo: UN Calls For Conflict Resolution Amidst Escalating Violence
On 16 April 2025, UN Special Envoy Huang Xia urged stronger coordination to address the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where violence by the M23 rebel group has intensified, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis. Xia emphasised the need to tackle the root causes of the conflict, highlighting the dangers posed to civilians – especially children – and called for unity among ongoing peace initiatives. He noted that despite some political and diplomatic progress, more effort is needed to ensure lasting peace. The eastern DRC, rich in minerals, has long been plagued by armed groups vying for control. In early 2025, M23 rebels seized key cities, including the strategic city of Goma, leading to attacks on infrastructure and triggering a humanitarian disaster marked by displacement, disease, and human rights violations such as sexual violence and child abductions. Efforts to resolve the crisis include regional and international peace initiatives like the Nairobi and Luanda processes, the Doha initiative, and the longstanding UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, which has over 10,000 troops in the country. Despite these efforts, the human rights situation remains dire, with fundamental freedoms regularly under threat.
Afghanistan: UN Calls For End to Public Executions
On 17 April 2025, UN experts called on the Taliban to immediately halt the use of inhumane punishments such as public executions and corporal punishment following four public executions on 11 April 2025 in Afghanistan. They condemned these actions as violations of human dignity and international human rights laws, stressing that public executions foster a climate of fear and normalise violence. The experts criticised the use of religious justifications for such punishments, citing international treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture, which prohibit corporal punishments such as flogging, stoning, and amputation. Reports from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented cases of public floggings – some involving up to 100 lashes – as well as the flogging of over 60 people in June 2024. The UN expressed alarm over the lack of justice and the authoritarian nature of Taliban rule, especially the systematic oppression of women and girls.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/04/un-experts-urge-end-to-public-execution-in-afghanistan/
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