This Update on International Justice is prepared by the International Law and Human Rights Program and provided for informational purposes only. Any opinions expressed in articles contained in this Update are not necessarily endorsed by PGA or any individual/s associated with PGA; nor does PGA or any individual/s associated with PGA vouch for the accuracy of the contents of these articles.
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On July 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark advisory opinion clarifying states' obligations regarding climate change. The court emphasized that ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights requires protecting the climate system and other parts of the environment.
On July 16, 2025, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a Libyan war crimes suspect, was arrested in Germany based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Civil society organizations, including PGA, welcomed the arrest and urged states to promptly surrender suspects and fully cooperate with the ICC's Libya investigation.
On July 24, 2025, judges at the International Criminal Court referred Hungary to its oversight body for failing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu during his visit to Budapest in April.
On July 22, 2025, over 100 French lawyers requested that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court investigate members of the French executive, including the president, prime minister, foreign minister, and 19 lawmakers, for complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians. The lawyers argue that these officials have provided Israel with military, political, economic, diplomatic, and propaganda support.
On July 31, 2025, Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa published research findings indicating that Ethiopian and Eritrean forces have committed mass rape, forced pregnancy, sexual slavery and sexual torture of women and children in Tigray, amounting to crimes against humanity.
On July 16 2025, judges at the International Criminal Court rejected Israel's request to withdraw arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
On July 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen found that President Trump's executive order targeting those working with the International Criminal Court is likely a violation of the First Amendment. Judge Torreson shielded two U.S. human rights activists from any penalties for violating the order, stating that it restricts speech-based activity beyond its stated aims.
On July 23, 2025, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it is finalizing a formal intervention to the International Court of Justice, joining South Africa's case alleging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
On July 24, 2025, the International Criminal Court found two former leaders of the Anti-Balaka militia in the Central African Republic guilty of multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity. Mr. Ngaïssona and Mr. Yekatom were convicted of leading and facilitating attacks on civilians in Bangui during the civil war of 2013–14. They were sentenced to 15 and 12 years in prison, respectively.
From July 7–9, 2025, the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court convened a special session on the review of the amendments of the crime of aggression, which resulted in the adoption of consensus resolution ICC-ASP/S-1/Res.1. During the session, more than 85 civil society organizations urged states parties to harmonize the ICC's jurisdiction over the crime of aggression.
On July 8, 2025, UN officials and survivors commemorated the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, calling for truth, justice and vigilance.
On July 9, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for engaging with the International Criminal Court without the consent of the US or Israel. Amnesty International denounced the sanctions as a significant threat to international justice and the rule-based order. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk urged the prompt reversal of the sanctions, and an end to attacks and threats against Special Procedures mandate holders and the ICC.
On July 10, 2025, during a meeting of the Assembly of States Parties, a US State Department legal adviser called on the International Criminal Court to terminate all investigations and arrest warrants against Israel. He warned that the US would use all diplomatic, political, and legal instruments to block ICC overreach.
On July 15, 2025, Amnesty International reported that Venezuelan authorities are committing enforced disappearances as part of a systematic attack against the civilian population. The organization's latest report concludes that these serious human rights violations amount to crimes against humanity.
On July 14, 2025, The Guardian reported that a cross-party group of lawyers, politicians, and academics is considering a genocide determination bill to prevent genocide and encourage the UK government to make atrocity prevention a clearer priority for the Foreign Office.
On July 8, 2025, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders, Mr. Haibatullah Akhundzada and Mr. Abdul Hakim Haqqani, for alleged persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan based on gender and political grounds.
On July 11, 2025, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan informed the UN Security Council that war crimes and crimes against humanity are currently ongoing in Sudan's western Darfur region. The ICC investigators have collected over 7,000 items of documentary, testimonial, and digital evidence, and are committed to ensuring justice for the perpetrators.
