International Legal News - 01 September 2025

The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 25 August to 29 August 2025. Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.

Guernica 37 International Legal News

28 August 2025

Maldives tightens its control on Media with new far-reaching Bill

The Maldivian Parliament is considering a new law that could silence independent media amid reports by the NGO Human Rights Watch of an escalating crackdown on human right norms in the country. The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill would grant the Government new broad discretionary powers to control and regulate the media in the country.

The news comes after recent reports as documented (13 Aug) that the country is planning to reintroduce the death penalty in the country for drug offences.

This new Bill would dissolve two pre-existing regulatory bodies and replace them with a new entity. However, this proposed commission, composed of seven members, would have three and the Chair elected by the President directly, with the four remaining members elected by the media, but removable by the Maldivian Parliament. Further, the proposed Bill would empower the new commission to issue fines against journalists and media outlets, suspend registrations of media outlets, block websites and broadcasts, amongst other provisions.

On August 27, the People’s Majlis, which had been in recess, held an extraordinary parliamentary session to discuss the media Bill, for which a majority of members voted in favor. It is understood that the Parliamentary oversight committee has now opened a 10-day window for public opinion. Since submitted, the Bill has seen local journalists stage protests outside the Majlis.

For more on this story, see here.

For more about the Bill, see here.

27 August 2025

Return of IAEA inspectors in Iran met with protest by parliamentarians

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that UN inspectors from the agency have returned to Iran for the first time since Israeli and US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites earlier this summer.

The visit has been a cause for considerable political consternation amongst Iranian officials in Tehran.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, tried to “quell” the fallout, reportedly on the basis that the inspectors would not be visiting the bombed sites, and that the IAEA’s return was endorsed by the supreme national security council.

The presence of the inspectors is understood to concern a visit of the Bushehr site to oversee refuelling, a requirement required under the international nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

For more on this story, see here.

26 August 2025

UN Chief calls on Egypt to end arbitrary detention system

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged Egypt to end the rotation system which enables the authorities to extend prison sentences beyond the maximum term. It is reported that the system is typically used against persons perceived to be political opponents, activists, protestors, lawyers and journalists.

The “rotation system” involves charging a prisoner with a new offence when they are about to be released, which leads to an indefinite term in prison. New charges are said to be very similar if not identical under the Anti-Terrorism Law.

Commenting on the practice, Commissioner Volker Türk stated:

“[…] the charges brought against them are often related to the exercise of their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly …This practice has become a tool by which the Egyptian Government represses those perceived to be critical of, or in opposition to, its policies.”

The practice has been previously criticised by the UN, for breaching the “double jeopardy” rule.

For more on this story, see here.

25 August 2025

ICSID establishes new office in Singapore

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”) signed a letter of intent that has formalised the establishment of a new office in Singapore. The move represents the Investment Arbitration Centre’s first staffed office outside of Washington D.C. in the United States.

The Singapore office will be based at the World Bank Group Singapore Office at 10 Marina Boulevard, alongside the other four World Bank Group organisations which are based there.

Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr Edwin Tong SC stated:

“ICSID is the world’s leading institution dedicated to international investment dispute settlement. We are honoured that ICSID has chosen Singapore for its first staffed office outside of its headquarters. We warmly welcome ICSID to our growing ecosystem, where it will join other international dispute resolution institutions, adding to Singapore’s service offerings, and increasing access to ICSID’s services in this region.”

Singapore ratified the ICSID Convention on 14 October 1968.

For more on this story, see here.

25 August 2025

UN Rapporteur on violence against woman and girls calls for international ban on surrogacy

Media outlets this week reported on a series of recommendations published by the UN rapporteur on violence against woman and girls, Reem Alsalem, which calls for Member States to move towards a total prohibition of surrogacy.

The Rapporteur documents a number of findings and recommendations concerning surrogacy and egg donation. It is reported that in 2023: 

“[…] the global surrogacy market was valued at $14.95 billion and is projected to reach $99.75 billion by 2033.Globally, most surrogate mothers come from lower-income backgrounds and have less social status compared with the commissioning parents. Many surrogate mothers lack access to effective legal remedies or advocacy mechanisms.”

The report is expected to be presented formally to the UN General Assembly in mid-October but is available online.

For more on this story, see here.

For the UN Report, see here.