The International Law and Human Rights Program prepares this update on International Justice 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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Afghanistan, European Union
On 3 June 2026, PGA Member Fawzia Koofi, the first woman deputy speaker of parliament in Afghanistan, urged European states to adopt legal measures addressing gender apartheid. Human rights advocates condemned the EU’s decision to host Taliban representatives in Brussels, warning that engagement with the Taliban risks legitimizing ongoing abuses against women and girls.
On 1 June 2026, the International Criminal Court welcomed Hungary’s decision to remain a State Party to the Rome Statute, following the government’s formal withdrawal notice. The reversal strengthens the international justice system and confirms Hungary’s uninterrupted cooperation with the ICC.
On 1 June 2026, Amnesty International called on Spanish and Argentinean authorities to advance justice for Venezuelan victims of crimes against humanity, emphasizing the importance of universal jurisdiction proceedings and full cooperation with extradition requests related to abuses in Venezuela.
On 5 June 2026, French prosecutors opened a war crimes investigation into Israel’s alleged mistreatment of French activists detained during an attempt to break the Gaza blockade. The probe follows reports of violence and degrading treatment during and after the interception of the Gaza flotilla by Israeli forces.
On 9 June 2026, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed the need for increased accountability for war crimes committed against children, noting the growing impact of armed conflict on children and the failure of justice systems to address the specific harms they face.
On 10 June 2026, Amnesty International warned that Israel’s accelerated annexation policies and forcible displacement of Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank require urgent international action to halt ethnic cleansing, apartheid, and related crimes under international law.
On 10 June 2026, Human Rights Watch reported that Rwandan military forces and the M23 armed group have engaged in forced recruitment, abusive detention, killings, torture, forced labor, and the use of child soldiers in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which should be investigated as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
On 8 June 2026, the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties suspended ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan with immediate effect, following the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings concerning alleged misconduct. The Bureau announced that a special session would be convened to consider the matter.
On 9 June 2026, Eugène Rwamucyo, previously sentenced to 27 years in prison for complicity in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, returned before the Paris Criminal Court on appeal under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
On 12 June 2026, the UN Security Council discussed the future of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Members considered measures to preserve the legacy and essential functions of the tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia as the mechanism moves toward closure.
