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.
Highlight
China
On May 30, 2025, China signed a convention to establish the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong, aiming to rival the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the world's leading conflict resolution body. The organization will handle cases involving disputes between countries, nationals of another country, and private entities.
On May 19, 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that its Deputy Prosecutors will be assuming leadership roles and continuing to work across all situations. This transition follows the leave of absence of Prosecutor Karim Khan until the conclusion of the external investigation into his alleged misconduct.
Cambodia's annual Day of Remembrance, held on May 20, 2025, commemorated 50 years since the Khmer Rouge launched a four-year reign of terror that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1.7 million people.
On May 28, 2025, Namibia commemorated its first National Genocide Remembrance Day to honor the victims of the genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples by German colonial forces. Namibia's president, Nangolo Mbumba, emphasized the need for greater reparations.
On May 17, 2025, Syria announced the formation of two commissions to investigate the fate of tens of thousands of individuals missing under Bashar al-Assad's rule. The authorities have pledged to pursue justice for victims of atrocities, and a five-year transitional constitution called for the establishment of a transitional justice commission.
On May 20, 2025, Hungary's parliament approved a bill to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the court of being "politically motivated." This decision marks Hungary as the third nation after Burundi and the Philippines to take such a step.
On May 26, 2025, the Knesset plenum of the Israeli government approved the preliminary reading of a joint bill to establish special courts for terrorists involved in the October 7 attack. The bill would allow detainees to be held without bail for the purpose of investigation, trial, or national security.
On May 19, 2025, Lithuania filed a case against Belarus at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of organizing and facilitating migrant smuggling into Lithuania. Lithuania's Justice Minister, Rimantas Mockus, stated that the Belarusian regime must be held legally accountable for the surge in migration and the subsequent human rights violations.
On May 27, 2025, Mahmoud Daifallah Mahmoud Hmoud, a Jordanian diplomat and legal scholar, was elected to the position of judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He will fill the vacancy left by former ICJ President Nawaf Salam, who resigned in January to become Prime Minister of Lebanon.
On May 9, 2025, EU foreign ministers in Lviv endorsed the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute top Russian leaders for their roles in the invasion of Ukraine. The tribunal aims to hold accountable those responsible for the crimes under investigation, extending beyond the scope of current warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On May 7, 2025, United Nations experts warned that Israel's ongoing destruction in Gaza constitutes a moral crisis with irreversible consequences for humanity and the multilateral order. They urged nations to implement enforceable measures to end the violence and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
On May 14, 2025, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Amnesty International, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), PGA, and other organizations urged the Council of Europe to publish the draft Statute of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression to ensure transparent and inclusive victims-centered justice.
On May 15, 2025, it was reported that the ICC has been significantly impacted by US sanctions imposed by President Trump. Staff members have said that these sanctions have hindered the court's ability to carry out even basic tasks, making it difficult to seek justice for victims of war crimes.
On May 13, 2025, the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region passed a unanimous resolution urging the Belgian federal government to enforce ICC arrest warrants, including those against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu..
On May 2, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded its public hearings on Israel's obligations to allow humanitarian aid into Palestine. A panel of judges heard oral arguments from 40 countries, including China, France, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
On May 5, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismissed Sudan's accusations that the UAE fueled the genocide in Darfur by supplying weapons to paramilitary forces. The judges accepted the UAE's arguments that the court "manifestly lacked" jurisdiction in the case.
On May 7, 2025, the ICC dimissed an appeal by the defense team of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, which sought to excuse two judges from presiding over a case concerning crimes against humanity committed by him.
As ICC judges reconsider complex jurisdictional questions regarding the Situation in the State of Palestine, on May 9, 2025, Israel formally requested that the court dismiss arrest warrants against former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
