© Photo by Torbjorn Toby Jorgensen via Flickr
Ecuador: Former Vice President Jorge Glas Sentenced to 13 Years for Embezzlement
On 30 June 205, former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas was sentenced to 13 years in prison for embezzlement related to the misuse of public funds meant for reconstruction after the devastating 2016 earthquake. The National Court of Justice found Glas and Carlos Bernal, former reconstruction secretary, guilty of approving projects that did not benefit victims and were linked to personal associates. In addition to prison time, both men were fined, ordered to pay at least US$250 million in damages, and barred from holding public office. They must also make a public apology, acknowledging corruption as a betrayal of public trust. The sentence follows Glas’s earlier imprisonment over the 2017 Odebrecht corruption scandal. His arrest after seeking asylum in the Mexican embassy led to a diplomatic crisis and an ICJ case. Human rights concerns have since been raised over his detention conditions. Both Glas and Bernal may appeal the ruling.
UK: High Court Rules Export of F-35 Jet Parts to Israel Is Lawful
On 30 June 2025, the UK High Court ruled that the government’s continued export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel is lawful, despite concerns from human rights groups. Justices Males and Steyn upheld the Secretary of State for Business and Trade’s decision to exempt these parts from a broader suspension of military exports to Israel, citing the need to protect the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program and global security. The legal challenge, brought by Palestinian rights group Al-Haq with support from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, argued that the UK was breaching international treaties, including the Geneva Conventions, the Arms Trade Treaty, and the Genocide Convention. They claimed the carve-out could lead to UK complicity in violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. The judges acknowledged that UK-made parts might reach Israel and be used in the conflict, but said this possibility alone does not prove a breach of international law. They emphasised that the issue involves sensitive foreign policy decisions that fall under the government’s authority, not the courts. The ruling clarifies that the case was about the UK’s participation in the JSF Program—not a blanket approval for supplying arms to Israel.
ICC: Prosecutor Challenges Italy for Releasing War Crimes Suspect
On 30 June 2025, it was reported that the International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan formally challenged Italy’s handling of Libyan Brigadier General Osama Elmasry Njeem, also known as Osama al‑Masri, who was arrested in Turin in January 2025 on an ICC war crimes warrant and then released just two days later on procedural grounds. The ICC asserts that Italy failed to inform its justice ministry prior to the arrest, violating Rome Statute obligations, and did not consult with the Court before releasing Elmasry and deporting him to Libya. Prosecutor Khan has formally requested explanations from Rome, citing concerns over Italy’s failure to “co‑operate fully with the Court” and warning this could undermine international justice. The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, defends its actions as legally required after the arrest warrant was deemed invalid by a domestic court due to technical errors. Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors have launched their own investigation into Meloni and top ministers for potential abuse of power and misuse of public funds
France: Criminal Complaint Filed Against Israeli-French Soldiers for Crimes in Gaza
On 1 July 2025, several French and Palestinian rights associations, including FIDH, LDH, and Al-Haq, lodged a criminal complaint in Paris against two French–Israeli soldiers, identified as Sasha A. and Gabriel B. H., who served in the Israeli army’s elite “Ghost Unit” snipers of the 202nd Paratroopers Battalion. The complaint alleges they executed unarmed Palestinian civilians in so-called “deconflicted” zones—areas free from combat—during operations in Gaza between November 2023 and March 2024, citing video evidence and testimonies documented in an October 2024 report by journalist Younis Tirawi. Filed with Paris’s War Crimes Unit, the complaint invokes France’s universal jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. It seeks to prompt a judicial inquiry, noting that dual nationals can be prosecuted in France for offences committed abroad. The associations argue that this legal action is vital to combat impunity and may pave the way for similar complaints in other European countries.
Algeria: French Journalist Sentenced to Seven Years Amidst Press Crackdown
On 1 July 2025, a court in Algeria sentenced French journalist Christophe Gleizes to seven years in prison for allegedly “glorifying terrorism” and possessing harmful propaganda. Gleizes, a contributor to So Foot and Society, was arrested in May 2024 after interviewing the president of football club JS Kabylie, who was linked to the banned separatist group MAK. His arrest was not revealed until his sentencing on 29 June 2025. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the ruling, calling it a clear violation of press freedom, and demanded his release. France also criticised the sentence as “harsh” and has sought consular access. The case reflects a broader crackdown on dissent in Algeria. In recent months, authorities have imprisoned poet Mohamed Tadjadit and upheld a sentence against writer Boualem Sansal, while also increasing arbitrary travel bans on activists. Rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch say these actions signal escalating repression and criminalisation of peaceful expression.
Ukraine: Evidence Emerges of Russia Executing POWs
On 2 July 2025, Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, has raised alarms over a newly circulated video likely depicting the execution of wounded Ukrainian Prisoners of War (POWs) by Russian forces. He emphasised that this incident represents part of a broader, systematic pattern of prisoner killings, not isolated episodes. The footage appears to show at least five unarmed Ukrainian soldiers being executed after capture. Lubinets has urged the United Nations (UN) and International Committee of the Red Cross to step in, demanding thorough investigations and accountability. This case follows mounting evidence of widespread war crimes against Ukrainian POWs, including shooting of surrendering soldiers and torture, documented by Ukraine’s authorities, UN monitors, and released video footage. Ukraine continues to compile these incidents as destructive challenges to international humanitarian law, pushing for international legal action and sanctions against those responsible.
Iran: Suspends Cooperation with IAEA, Escalating Nuclear Tensions
On 2 July 2025, it was reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a new law suspending the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), escalating tensions over its nuclear program. The law, passed overwhelmingly by Parliament, directs the Atomic Energy Organisation, National Security Council, and Foreign Ministry to implement the directive immediately. This move reflects Iran’s growing defiance amidst intensifying disputes with Israel and the US, especially following the targeted killings of Iranian nuclear scientists and continued regional conflict. Tehran insists it will not engage with the IAEA unless it receives guarantees for the safety of its nuclear sites and personnel, and recognition of its right to enrich uranium. The IAEA recently reported Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60%, far exceeding the 3.67% cap under the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA). Iran rejected the report, accusing the IAEA of bias. With cooperation now severed, IAEA monitoring and inspections—including satellite surveillance—will cease, reducing transparency and potentially triggering UN Security Council action. The situation is further inflamed by recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, aimed at curbing Iranian aggression. The long-term effects of this law are uncertain but are expected to worsen regional instability and undermine global nuclear nonproliferation efforts.
IACHR: Declares Climate Crisis a Human Rights Emergency in Landmark Advisory Opinion
On 5 July 2025, it was reported that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) praised a new advisory opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) as a major step forward in addressing climate change through a human rights lens. The IACHR’s Advisory Opinion 32/25, requested by Chile and Colombia, affirms that climate change constitutes a global emergency and recognises the human right to a healthy environment under the American Convention on Human Rights. The Court emphasized that states have both international and domestic obligations to combat climate change and protect vulnerable populations. The opinion follows an extensive consultation process and is intended to guide states, though it is not legally binding. Organisations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have also welcomed the decision, highlighting its importance in strengthening the legal basis for climate action.
Sudan: WFP Warns of Funding Shortage for Sudanese Refugees
On 30 June 2025, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that millions of Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries are facing major shortages in food aid due to severe funding cuts. Shaun Hughes, WFP’s emergency coordinator for the Sudan Regional Crisis, said, millions of Sudanese refugees rely solely on WFP for support, but without adequate funding, they will be forced to make cuts to food assistance, leaving vulnerable people at risk of hunger and malnutrition. Hughes emphasised the need for immediate political and diplomatic action to restore peace and stability. The WFP reported that malnutrition rates among refugee children at reception centres in Uganda and South Sudan have surpassed emergency thresholds. Over the next six months, the WFP needs US$200 million to maintain emergency support for refugees in neighbouring countries, with a further US$575 million required for life-saving operations in Sudan.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/wfp-warns-of-funding-shortfall-for-sudanese-refugees/3618026
Italy: One Dead and Two Missing After Migrant Boat Sinks off Lampedusa
On 30 June 2025, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that one woman died, two feared missing, and 87 others rescued following a migrant boat shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa. Lampedusa is situated between Tunisia, Malta, and the larger Italian island of Sicily, and it is one of the main points of entry for many migrants attempting to reach the EU from North Africa. It is one of the world’s most dangerous sea crossings. IOM spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo said the migrants were rescued by a Tunisian fishing boat and then picked up by the Italian coastguard and brought to Lampedusa. They had departed from Tunisia on a fragile metal boat that broke apart during the voyage. Di Giacomo added that another group of approximately 80 migrants, including children and pregnant women, reached Lampedusa overnight after making the crossing in severe weather. They had departed from Libya on Friday on a rubber dinghy. According to the IOM, over 25,000 migrants have died or gone missing on the central Mediterranean route between North Africa and Italy since 2014, including 1,810 in 2024 and 542 so far this year.
Togo: Seven Killed During Protests in Togo
On 30 June 2025, it was reported that seven people were killed during anti-government protests in Togo last week, where human rights activists accused security forces of using “shocking violence” against protesters. The protests broke out last Thursday amid calls for longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe to resign as the cost-of-living crisis worsens. Witnesses reported observing soldiers using tear gas and batons to break up the crowds. A joint statement from 12 Togolese civil society and human rights groups accused security forces of committing arbitrary arrests, assaulting civilians, and destroying private property. The groups reported that on Friday, three bodies, including two minors, were found in Be lagoon, located east of the capital Lome. They also reported the bodies of two brothers were found in a lake in Lome’s Akodessewa district. On Saturday, an additional two bodies were found in the Nyekonakpoe neighborhood in Lome. The government of Togo issued a statement that acknowledged bodies were found but they said the deaths were a result of drowning. The protests are part of the ongoing political turmoil in Togo, where in May, Gnassingbe assumed the new position of President of the Council of Ministers, a role that does not have a defined term limit. The Gnassingbe family have held power in Togo since 1967, and civil society groups have said his new position signifies further democratic backsliding in West Africa.
Pakistan: Heavy Rain Across Pakistan Kill 46 People
On 30 June 2025, it was reported that severe monsoon rains and flash floods had killed at least 46 people and injured dozens more across Pakistan. The National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials said the death toll includes 22 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan, 13 in the eastern province of Punjab, seven in the south province of Sindh and four in Balochistan in the southwest. Irfan Virk, a deputy director of Pakistan’s Meteorological Department, said they anticipated “above-normal rains during the monsoon season, and alerts have been issued to the concerned authorities to take precautionary measures.” In the past week, 13 members of a family of 17 were killed when they were swept away in floods. The remaining four family members were rescued from the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The National Disaster Management Authority warned of flood dangers and advised people to refrain from crossing rivers and streams.
Mexico: 20 Killed in Cartel Violence in Sinaloa State
On 1 July 2025, authorities in Mexico said they found four decapitated bodies hanging from a bridge in the capital of Mexico’s Sinaloa state on Monday, marking an escalation in cartel violence that has resulted in 20 deaths in less than a day. In September, a violent war for territorial control between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, erupted and turned the city of Culiacán into an epicenter of cartel violence. Almost daily, dead bodies are found throughout Culiacán, while businesses and schools are shut for safety during periods of intense violence. On Monday, four decapitated bodies were found hanging from the highway bridge leading out of the city, with their heads found in plastic bags. Authorities also found 16 male victims with gunshot wounds in a white van. Intense fighting between the armed factions has become the new normal for civilians in Culiacan, a city that had for many years avoided the worst of Mexico’s violence, mainly because the Sinaloa Cartel held complete control over the area.
Malawi: Rights Group Demands Probe Into Attack on Malawi Election Protesters
On 1 July 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Malawian authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for a violent attack on peaceful election protesters in Lilongwe on 26 June 2025. Armed, masked men assaulted demonstrators while police and army personnel allegedly stood by without intervening. HRW emphasised that swift accountability is vital to uphold human rights and ensure public trust ahead of Malawi’s September general election. The protesters were demanding the resignation of two electoral commission officials over alleged bias and lack of transparency. Activist Sylvester Namiwa was reportedly beaten and nearly abducted during the attack. Several protesters were injured, and property was damaged, including vehicles set on fire. The incident has drawn condemnation from international bodies including the EU and US, which criticised security forces for failing to act. Malawian police have acknowledged the violence and claim an investigation is ongoing, though they deny inaction. Civil society groups and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party accuse the ruling Malawi Congress Party of orchestrating the attack through a youth militia, a claim the MCP denies. The violence comes as President Lazarus Chakwera seeks re-election amid severe economic challenges and rising inflation.
Haiti: Gangs Have Seized ‘Near-Total Control’ of the Capital Amidst Rising Violence
On 2 July 2025, UN officials reported gangs in Haiti had seized “near-total control” of the capital as violence escalated with authorities unable to bring the situation under control. Ghada Fathy Waly, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), stated that approximately 90% of the capital Port-au-Prince is now under control of gangs who are broadening their assaults into neighboring areas. Waly said Southern Haiti has seen a sharp increase in gang-related violence, while in the east, gangs are taking advantage of land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse. Last year, a mission supported by the UN and led by Kenyan police was deployed to Haiti to assist in combating gang violence. However, the mission faces significant challenges in staffing and funding, operating with only 40% of the 2,500 personnel that were originally planned. According to Waly from UNODC, the escalating gang violence has resulted in an increase in the number of private security companies and vigilante self-defense groups. Some of these groups act to protect their communities, while others collude with gangs.
OSCE: Moscow Mechanism Launched to Investigate Russia
On 2 July 2025, it was reported that at the end of July, the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) will formally activate the Moscow Mechanism to investigate documented war crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russian forces. This expert mission, which Russia cannot veto, was announced by Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to international bodies in Vienna, Yuriy Vitrenko. The initiative aligns with Ukraine’s broader strategy to assemble robust evidence for prosecution in international courts. Alongside the activation, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is set to publish its seventh report on the subject. Established under the 1991 Moscow Document, the mechanism empowers at least ten OSCE states to deploy a team of independent experts to collect evidence, issue findings, and recommend follow-on actions. With widespread reports of torture, executions, and mistreatment of Ukrainian POWs, this move represents a notable step toward accountability and international legal pressure on Russia.
Weekly News Recap (13 – 19 July 2026) © Photo by USAID U.S. Agency for International Development via FlickrInternational Justice SectionICC: Prosecution Requests Withdrawal of War Crimes Charges Against Abdallah BandaSudan: Anti-Terrorism Court Sentences RSF Leadership to Death in AbsentiaUS: Advocacy Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Executive Order Targeting ICC-Related AdvocacyICC:
Weekly News Recap (6 – 12 July 2026) © Photo by U.S. Pacific Fleet via Flickr International Justice Section Austria: Court Sentences Two Former Syrian Security Officials to Eight Years in Prison ECtHR: Communicates Case Concerning Alleged Detention and Abuse of Ukrainian Civilians by Russian Armed Forces Greece: Spyware Victims
Weekly News Recap (29 June – 5 July 2026) © Photo by Thomas Hawk via Flickr International Justice Section ICJ: Poland Files Intervention in Lithuania v. Belarus Migrant Smuggling Case US: Supreme Court Rejects President Trump’s Executive Order to Restrict Birthright Citizenship Germany: Prosecutors Arrest Suspect in 1994 Rwanda Genocide
