International Legal News - 10 March 2025
- Ned Vucijak
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 03 March to 09 March 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.
9 March 2025
UN Commissioner for Human Rights calls for investigations into killings in north-west Syria
The UN has condemned what it called “extremely disturbing” reports of entire families being killed in north-west Syria as clashes between security forces and Assad regime loyalists resulted in the country’s highest death toll since the start of its revolution in 2011. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that more than 1,000 people had been killed in the attack, including 745 civilians, 125 members of Syrian security forces and 148 Assad loyalists.
Fighting began on Thursday after fighters loyal to the ousted Assad regime ambushed security forces in Jableh, in the coastal Latakia province, sparking a wave of revenge attacks, including against civilians belonging to the minority Alawite sect. Clashes erupted once again on Sunday after security forces were attacked by Assad loyalists at a power plant in Banias, Latakia. To crush the rebellion, the Syrian government called for reinforcements, with thousands of fighters converging on Syria’s coast from all over the country.
The UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for investigations into the killings and for perpetrators to be held accountable. He stated: “We are receiving extremely disturbing reports of entire families, including women, children and hors de combat [surrendered] fighters, being killed. The killing of civilians in coastal areas in north-west Syria must cease, immediately.”
The Syrian presidency announced the formation of a seven-person committee, comprising judges and one lawyer, tasked with investigating the killings of civilians and security forces in north-west Syria. The committee, which was formed to “achieve civil peace and uncover the truth”, will issue a report with its findings in 30 days.
6 March 2025
Sudan brings case at the ICJ against the UAE under the Genocide Convention
Sudan has filed a case against the United Arab Emirates at the International Court of Justice for allegedly violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention by arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan alleges that the UAE is “complicit in the genocide” of the Masalit community, a non-Arabic group, in West Darfur, through its military, financial and political backing for the RSF. UN experts monitoring the arms embargo on Darfur have previously described accusations of the UAE smuggling weapons to the RSF through Chad as credible.
Since the war began in April 2023, both the RSF and the Sudanese army have been accused of committing atrocities. In its submission to the ICJ, Sudan states that “the United Arab Emirates fuels the rebellion and supports the militia that has committed the crime of genocide in West Darfur. The United Arab Emirates must make full reparation for the injury caused (by) its internationally wrongful acts, including paying reimbursement to the victims of the war.”
6 March 2025
UN condemns attacks against Muslim communities and Sudan refugees in Central African Republic
A UN report found armed groups operating in the Haut Oubangui region of the Central African Republic (CAR) have been carrying out attacks against Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees, resulting in human rights violations.The report, prepared by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), mainly attributes these attacks to Wagner Ti Azande (WTA), an armed group affiliated with the national army.
According to the report, two recent attacks in the Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou prefectures occurred in October 2024 and January 2025. At least 24 people were killed during these attacks in summary executions. Other documented forms of violence include gang rapes against females, forced labour, and looting of homes and shops.
4 March 2025
Amnesty International finds that ill-treatment of Ukrainians in Russian captivity amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity
According to Amnesty International, Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilian captives to torture, prolonged incommunicado detention, enforced disappearance and other inhumane treatment, which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, stated that“torture takes place in complete isolation from the outside world, with the victims entirely at the mercy of their captors for survival. This is not a series of isolated incidents – it is a systematic policy that violates every tenet of international law.”
3 March 2025
Art Institute of Chicago returns stolen Nepali sculpture
A 12th century Nepali sculpture that had regularly been on display at the Art Institute of Chicago is being returned to its native country after new research found that the object had originally been stolen. The sculpture, “Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda,” measures about 17.5 inches by 13 inches and was carved from schist, a dark metamorphic rock.
According to a statement by the Art Institute of Chicago, as part of “ongoing research into the provenance of its collection,” researchers discovered that the sculpture had been stolen from Guita Bahi in the Kathmandu Valley. The decision follows this new provenance research and collaboration with Nepalese officials. The return comes as institutions are being increasingly driven—or forced—to restitute and repatriate stolen cultural goods.
Sharad Raj Aran, of Nepal’s embassy in Washington, D.C. stated: “This sacred sculpture is a carrier of stories, traditions, and values … its return strengthens the bond between heritage and community, ensuring future generations can connect with their history.” The repatriation not only strengthens Nepal’s cultural heritage but also sets a precedent for future cooperation between Nepal and the AIC.
