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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Hungary
On 27 May 2026, the Hungarian parliament voted to reverse its planned withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties welcomed Hungary's decision to remain a State Party to the Rome Statute.
On 21 May 2026, the Philippine Justice Secretary ordered law enforcement authorities to arrest Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
On 22 May 2026, the UN Human Rights Office reported that the crisis in Gaza and the West Bank had reached catastrophic levels, reiterating calls for accountability for alleged violations of international law.
On 24 May 2026, Middle East Eye reported that former ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the former head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency had pressured her to end the Court's war crimes investigation in Israel.
On 28 May 2026, BBC News reported testimony to the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan in which a former chief of staff of UK Special Forces said war crimes allegations against the Special Air Service were not referred to military police in 2011 due to concerns that an investigation could disrupt operations and undermine morale, despite concerns regarding extrajudicial killings.
On 27 May 2026, 83 civil society organizations, including Parliamentarians for Global Action, urged the European Union and its member states to refrain from engaging with Taliban representatives and to support ongoing international justice efforts.
On 21 May 2026, the International Criminal Court concluded the confirmation of charges hearing in the case against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a former senior Mitiga Prison official suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Libya between 2014 and 2020.
On 25 May 2026, Human Rights Watch marked the 10th anniversary of the conviction of former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré before the Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal, noting that the landmark ruling has inspired global justice efforts. However, the reparations of approximately €123 million awarded to nearly 7,400 victims and survivors remain largely unfulfilled.
On 25 May 2026, Polish-Palestinian survivors and partner organizations filed a criminal complaint in Poland against senior Israeli officials for alleged genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and obstruction of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
On 27 May 2026, Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court scheduled the opening of the trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte for 30 November 2026.
On 28 May 2026, the Stockholm District Court concluded the trial of former Lundin Oil executives for complicity in war crimes committed in Sudan between 1999 and 2003, announcing that judgment will be delivered in December.
On 31 May 2026, activists linked to the Global Sumud Flotilla announced they had submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court of alleged abuse, torture, and other violations following the Israeli interception of the humanitarian flotilla to Gaza.
On 19 May 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court will open the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri. El Hishri, a former senior official at Mitiga Prison, faces 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed against Libyan nationals, migrants, and refugees between 1 May 2014 and 30 June 2020. This is the first case concerning the situation in Libya to reach the confirmation of charges phase before the ICC.
On 6 May 2026, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged the European Commission to activate the EU's Blocking Statute to protect the International Criminal Court and the United Nations from United States sanctions.
On 7 May 2026, the Presidency of the International Criminal Court referred Tajikistan's non-compliance to the Assembly of States Parties for failing to cooperate with the Court's request to arrest and surrender Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On 15 May 2026, the Philippines vowed to cooperate with the ICC and to arrest Senator Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa, who is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.
On 5 May 2026, Amnesty International published a report documenting rampant war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Allied Democratic Forces against civilians in eastern DRC.
On 5 May 2026, the Taliban accused Pakistan of killing three civilians and injuring fourteen people in a cross-border attack, describing the incident as a war crime. The attack occurred following a ceasefire brokered by China in April after several months of armed clashes.
On 12 May 2026, 11 African states joined the France-Mexico initiative to limit the use of the United Nations Security Council veto in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, bringing the total number of supporting states to 118.
On 15 May 2026, 34 European countries, Australia, Costa Rica, and the EU approved a resolution to establish a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
On 5 May 2026, Syria's judiciary charged Atef Najib, a former senior security official, with war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to a 2011 crackdown on protesters. This marks the first prosecution involving former Assad regime officials.
On 6 May 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal overturned the dismissal of genocide charges against former Rwandan First Lady Agathe Habyarimana and ordered the investigation to resume. Habyarimana, who has lived in France since 2004, faces charges of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity related to the 1994 Tutsi genocide.
On 11 May 2026, ICC judges unsealed an arrest warrant for Senator Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa for crimes against humanity of murder in relation to at least 32 killings committed between July 2016 and April 2018 during the Duterte administration's war on drugs.
