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International Peace & Security Section
CAR: UN Secretary-General Condemns Deadly Attack on Peacekeepers
Iran: UN Experts Condemn Civilian Harm and Legal Violations in Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict
Mozambique: Rights Group Condemns Child Abductions by Armed Group in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado
Pakistan: Rights Group Condemns Civilian Deaths from Drone Strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
UN: Report Highlights Unpaid Care Work as Major Obstacle to Gender Equality
Haiti: Rights Group Urges Action as Haiti’s Security Crisis Worsens Despite International Mission
DRC – Rwanda: Sign US-Brokered Peace Deal to End Decades-Long Conflict
US: Supreme Court Clears Faster Migrant Deportations
On 23 June 2025, the US Supreme Court stayed a lower court’s injunction, allowing the government to deport migrants with minimal notice while appeals continue. The District of Massachusetts had previously ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide adequate notice and information about legal rights before removal. The Court’s majority offered no explanation. In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor condemned the decision as undermining due process and enabling “lawlessness,” citing cases where DHS gave just hours’ notice before deporting people to Mexico and South Sudan despite risks of serious harm. The ruling underscores ongoing debate over executive power in immigration policy and the role of courts in safeguarding constitutional rights.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/23/supreme-court-trump-deportations
Vietnam: Parliament Abolishes Death Penalty for Eight Crimes
On 25 June 2025, it was reported that Vietnam’s National Assembly voted to remove the death penalty for eight offences, including embezzlement, bribery, espionage, and drug trafficking. The amended Criminal Code replaces capital punishment with life imprisonment for these crimes, with all existing death sentences for them automatically commuted after 1 July 2025. Officials said the reforms address structural inconsistencies in sentencing and evolving crime prevention needs. The change notably spares high-profile convict Trương Mỹ Lan, sentenced to death in 2024 for a US$12 billion embezzlement scheme. Amnesty International welcomed the move as progress but urged broader reforms, noting Vietnam’s continued use of the death penalty for 19 crimes and longstanding secrecy over executions. Despite the change, Vietnam remains among Southeast Asia’s leading executioners, with over 400 executions in the past decade.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/25/asia/vietnam-death-penalty-intl-hnk
Gaza: Aid Group Accused of Complicity in War Crimes
On 25 June 2025, a coalition of 15 human rights and legal organisations demanded that the United States and Israeli‑backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) halt its operations, warning that the group may be complicit in war crimes. Launched in late May 2025 to bypass existing UN aid channels, GHF’s model relies on fixed distribution hubs guarded by private contractors and coordinated with Israeli forces – a shift rights groups say undermines neutrality and impartiality. The organisations allege that these “militarised” aid sites have become deadly “death traps”, where hundreds of Palestinians have been killed or wounded as they approach food distributions. The organisations argue this system could expose GHF and its personnel to civil and criminal liability under international law for facilitating forced displacement, starvation, and potential genocide.
Ukraine: Council of Europe and Ukraine Establish Special Tribunal For Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression
On 25 June 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Council of Europe Secretary‑General Alain Berset formally signed an agreement in Strasbourg to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine – the first such court set up under the Council of Europe. The tribunal aims to prosecute senior Russian leaders, including potentially President Vladimir Putin, for instigating the 2022 full‑scale invasion – an offence outside the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The tribunal will focus on the “crime of aggression,” filling critical legal gaps, and will have provisions for trials in absentia until defendants leave office. Backed by a coalition of countries – including the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, the United States, and over 40 others – the court expects to begin operations in early 2026, though its physical location remains undecided, with The Hague considered a strong candidate. Zelenskyy emphasised the tribunal’s symbolic power: “aggression leads to punishment” and justice must be delivered by all of Europe, reinforcing accountability for war crimes and deterring future aggression.
Russia: Putin to Attend BRICS Virtually Due to ICC Arrest Warrant Concerns
On 26 June 2025, it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on 6 – 7 July 2025, opting to participate virtually due to concerns his presence in Brazil could lead to his arrest under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant issued in March 2023 for the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children. As a state party to the Rome Statute, Brazil is legally obligated to detain individuals indicted by the ICC, and has not provided assurances to exempt Putin. In lieu of Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent Russia in person. This marks another instance – following his absence from a previous BRICS summit in South Africa – of Putin avoiding travel to ICC member states over arrest concerns. His remote participation highlights the ongoing geopolitical tension between Russia’s global leadership ambitions and legal restrictions tied to war crimes allegations.
US: White House Proposes Funding Cuts to Global War Crimes and Accountability Programmes
On 26 June 2025, the White House proposed deep funding cuts to nearly two dozen global war crimes and accountability programs, including efforts in Ukraine, Myanmar, and Syria. Led by the Office of Management and Budget, the proposal would defund initiatives such as Global Rights Compliance and Legal Action Worldwide in Ukraine, and terminate an US$18 million grant supporting Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office. These cuts threaten key operations that document atrocities and support prosecutions, although America’s military aid to Ukraine remains untouched. Critics view the move as a continuation of Trump’s “America First” policies, shifting United States priorities away from global human rights advocacy. The State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, has until 11 July 2025 to appeal the proposed terminations. Should the cuts go through, ongoing efforts to gather evidence and hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes may suffer significant setbacks, potentially undermining justice and accountability in conflict zones.
https://kyivindependent.com/trump-wants-to-slash-war-crimes-investigation-funds-reuters-reports/
Syria: Amnesty Urges Support for Torture Survivors
On 26 June 2025, Amnesty International called on Syria’s new government to provide support and justice for survivors of torture in its former military prisons. Marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the group stressed the severe physical and psychological harm faced by survivors and demanded prosecutions in fair civilian trials. Since toppling Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Syria’s new authorities have banned torture in a constitutional declaration and established a Transitional Justice Commission. While the UN has praised these steps, Amnesty warned that survivors lack adequate care, and recent cuts to foreign aid threaten essential services.
UAE: Supreme Court Issues Mass Life Sentences Amidst International Condemnation
On 26 June 2025, the UAE’s Federal Supreme Court reconvicted 24 individuals in a mass trial, issuing life sentences and bringing the total convictions in the case to 83. Human Rights Watch and other organisations have condemned the verdict, citing serious legal flaws including coerced testimony, limited legal access, and violations of due process. Many of those convicted are human rights activists or dissidents previously imprisoned in the 2013 “UAE94” trial. Critics argue that the UAE uses vague anti-terrorism laws to silence peaceful political reform advocates. The UAE government insists the trial met legal standards, but rights groups demand the convictions be overturned and the defendants released.
CAR: UN Secretary-General Condemns Deadly Attack on Peacekeepers
On 23 June 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned a recent attack in the Central African Republic (CAR) that killed a Zambian peacekeeper and injured another, carried out by unidentified armed groups targeting UN peacekeepers of the MINUSCA mission. Guterres urged CAR authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice, noting that such attacks may constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute. Valentine Rugwabiza, head of MINUSCA, highlighted this as the third deadly assault on peacekeepers in 2025, citing previous attacks that injured Nepalese personnel and killed Kenyan and Tunisian peacekeepers. Since MINUSCA’s deployment, 208 peacekeepers have died. The security situation in CAR is deteriorating, fueled by attacks on Muslim communities, Sudanese refugees fleeing the war in Sudan, and ongoing human rights violations. The country’s 2025 elections are seen as a critical opportunity to address the root causes of conflict, but serious security challenges remain that threaten stability and the rule of law.
Iran: UN Experts Condemn Civilian Harm and Legal Violations in Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict
On 23 June 2025, the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran and the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran jointly called for greater protection of civilians and adherence to international law amidst escalating Israeli airstrikes on Iran. They urged Iran to improve civil defense measures, including warning systems and bomb shelters, and criticised internet restrictions that hinder civilians’ ability to communicate and seek safety. The statement also raised alarms over Iran’s arbitrary arrests of activists, journalists, and Afghan nationals under vague national security charges, which undermine due process, especially in a country with a high execution rate. UN experts accused Israel of potentially committing war crimes by targeting civilians. Notable strikes cited include an attack on a Tehran apartment complex that killed dozens, including humanitarian workers, as well as strikes on a hospital, a children’s clinic, and Iran’s state broadcasting headquarters. These actions appear to violate the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law, which obliges warring parties to differentiate between civilian and military targets. While Iran is a party to this legal framework, Israel, though not formally bound by it, has acknowledged the principle as customary international law. The UN reiterated that both nations’ actions are intensifying civilian suffering and undermining core principles of international law, warning that the conflict threatens the stability of the international system based on sovereignty, peaceful dispute resolution, and the prohibition of unilateral military aggression.
Mozambique: Rights Group Condemns Child Abductions by Armed Group in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado
On 24 June 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) raised alarm over a surge in child abductions by an Islamic State-linked armed group, known locally as Al-Shabab, in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. At least 120 children have been kidnapped in recent days, with some released but many still missing. Survivors face major challenges reintegrating into their communities after being forced into roles such as labourers, child soldiers, or child brides. HRW urged the Mozambican government to take decisive action to prevent further abductions, hold perpetrators accountable, and support rescued children with medical care and psychological services. The organisation emphasised the need for robust reintegration programs to prevent further stigma and marginalisation. This call follows a UNICEF report warning of a growing trend in child recruitment and abduction by non-state armed groups in Mozambique, actions that violate international legal protections for children. Mozambican law and international conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Rome Statute, criminalise the recruitment of children under 15 for armed conflict. The crisis, rooted in a violent insurgency that began in 2017, has severely destabilised Mozambique and harmed its economy. HRW’s statement comes shortly after Amnesty International criticised the Mozambican government for human rights violations following the 2024 election, including the unlawful use of force and arbitrary detentions.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/24/mozambique-armed-groups-child-abductions-surge-in-north
Pakistan: Rights Group Condemns Civilian Deaths from Drone Strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
On 24 June 2025, Amnesty International condemned Pakistan’s military for repeated drone strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that have killed at least 17 civilians in 2025, including children. The organisation urged Pakistani authorities to investigate the attacks, ensure accountability, and provide compensation to victims and their families. Deputy Regional Director Isabelle Lassée criticised the strikes for violating international law, citing incidents such as one that targeted a volleyball game. Despite acknowledging civilian deaths, the Pakistani government has attributed them to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks. The TTP, an armed group formed in 2007 and linked to Al-Qaeda, has long battled the Pakistani military. Although earlier offensives in 2014 weakened the group, it has resurged since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul. Military actions against the TTP have previously displaced over 400,000 people within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Amnesty emphasised that drone strikes must not disregard civilian safety and called for independent investigations into these unlawful killings.
UN: Report Highlights Unpaid Care Work as Major Obstacle to Gender Equality
On 24 June 2025, a new UN report warned that the heavy burden of unpaid care work on women is a key barrier to gender equality and societal progress. Women perform 12.5 billion hours of unpaid care work daily—worth an estimated \$10.8 trillion annually—which is largely unrecognised in economic systems and excluded from GDP calculations. The report calls for the recognition, redistribution, and remuneration of care work through public investment and structural reforms. It stresses that unpaid care responsibilities limit women’s access to health, education, employment, and political participation, and are both a cause and effect of gender discrimination. To address this, the UN recommends gender-inclusive care systems, better public services, and policies that share caregiving responsibilities more equitably. Examples from Canada, China, and Tunisia show progress through subsidised childcare, compensation laws, and social security extensions for caregivers. Improving care infrastructure is also linked to broader societal benefits, including poverty reduction, improved health, and stronger education and social protection systems.
Haiti: Rights Group Urges Action as Haiti’s Security Crisis Worsens Despite International Mission
On 25 June 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the global community to urgently address Haiti’s escalating violence and human rights abuses, one year after the UN-authorised Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission began operations. Despite the mission’s deployment, led by Kenya and backed by limited funding from countries including the US, Canada, and France, Haiti remains engulfed in gang violence and lawlessness. The MSS has been hampered by critical shortages in personnel, resources, and equipment, deploying only 991 troops—far below the planned 2,500. Meanwhile, the Haitian National Police remain overwhelmed. As a result, violence continues to surge: over 2,600 people have been killed and more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced, with gang attacks spreading to new areas once considered safe. Children are increasingly targeted, with reported rights violations jumping nearly sixfold from 2023 to 2024. Political instability in the US has further undermined support, as former President Trump’s freeze on foreign aid threatens the MSS’s viability, despite prior US pledges of at least US$380 million. HRW warns that without sustained international commitment, Haiti’s humanitarian and security crisis will worsen, and calls for renewed, concrete efforts to ensure the country’s long-term peace and stability.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/25/haiti-displacement-hits-record-as-security-efforts-fall-short
Bangladesh: Rights Group Warns of Rohingya Education Crisis Amidst Aid Cuts and Government Restrictions
On 25 June 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) raised alarms over a worsening education crisis in Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps, following significant cuts in humanitarian aid. The closures of 6,400 learning centers run by UNICEF and Save the Children—due to a steep decline in foreign funding and a US aid freeze ordered by President Trump—have disrupted education for nearly 300,000 children. HRW criticised Bangladesh’s interim government for restricting refugee-led educational initiatives and urged recognition of community-led schools, which lack funding and legal status. These restrictions expose children to increased risks of child labour and gang violence. The organisation also called for the inclusion of Rohingya educators in policy-making and greater international support for community-based education networks. HRW accused Bangladesh of violating international legal obligations, including those under the UN Refugee Convention and children’s rights treaties, by denying formal education to Rohingya children. The Bangladeshi government has historically avoided establishing permanent schools to discourage long-term settlement of Rohingya refugees.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/25/bangladesh-foreign-aid-cuts-affect-rohingya-childrens-education
Cambodia: Rights Group Report Exposes Human Trafficking and Forced Labour in Cambodian Labor Camps Amidst Governmental Inaction
On 26 June 2025, Amnesty International’s new report exposed widespread human trafficking, slavery, and forced labour in Cambodian labour camps run by crime groups. Survivors, including minors, were lured by false job promises but ended up trapped in heavily secured compounds, forced into scams under threats of violence and torture. The report highlights the Cambodian government’s failure to investigate or prosecute offenders, with police often colluding with camp managers. UN experts have raised alarm about this escalating crisis, calling for urgent international action. Despite international laws against trafficking and forced labour, Cambodia has largely ignored recommendations to protect victims and uphold human rights, with ongoing crackdowns on political dissent and labour activists.
DRC-Rwanda: Sign US-Brokered Peace Deal to End Decades-Long Conflict
On 27 June 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a US-mediated peace agreement aimed at ending a 30-year conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. Building on April’s Declaration of Principles, the deal seeks to restore bilateral ties, promote regional development, and prevent future violence, including through support for ongoing negotiations with the M23 rebel group under Qatari mediation. The agreement includes provisions for the safe return of refugees and displaced people with UN assistance. US Senator Jim Risch praised former President Donald Trump’s role in facilitating the deal but acknowledged that lasting peace depends on both parties fulfilling their commitments. Despite optimism, critics warn the deal overlooks root causes of the conflict – such as militia activity, ethnic tensions, land disputes, and unresolved citizenship issues – raising concerns about its long-term effectiveness. The ICC’s ongoing investigations into war crimes committed during the conflict also remain unresolved.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/06/dr-congo-and-rwanda-sign-us-brokered-peace-agreement/
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