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International Legal News - 16 June 2025

  • Writer: Ned Vucijak
    Ned Vucijak
  • Jun 15
  • 5 min read

Updated: Jun 22

The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 9 June to 13 June 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.

Round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world
Guernica 37 International Legal News

13 June 2025

Israel launches attack against Iranian nuclear sites

The Israeli Air Force has launched an attack targeting senior Iranian military figures and nuclear targets. Explosions were reported in Iran’s capital Tehran in the early hours, including at the Natanz nuclear facility located 140 miles south of the capital.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been reportedly informed by Iranian authorities that no increases in radiation have been recorded at the plant.

IAEA head Rafael Grossi said nuclear facilities "must never be attacked" moreover, such strikes have: "serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security".

The attack follows a formal declaration this week by the IAEA that Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years.

 

12 June 2025

UK Parliament’s International Development Committee publishes report on UK’s role in international humanitarian law and humanitarian access

The International Development Committee, which is appointed by the House of Commons to scrutinise the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and consider aid policy has published a new report that considers what role the UK has in upholding international humanitarian law (“IHL”) in light of recent conflicts.

The Report has featured evidence submitted by Barrister Dr Tomas Hamilton, member of G37 Chambers. Hr has highlighted how UK weapons exports may be inadvertently undermining UK aid efforts and has emphasised the need for the adoption of regulation that goes beyond domestic licensing authorisation to ensure that the defence industry acts in accordance with the UK’s IHL obligations.

 

12 June 2025

Teenager wins legal appeal against parents to have claim to return to the UK reheard

A 14-year-old boy who claims to have been tricked by his parents to attend a boarding school in Ghana in March 2024 has been successful in having his claim reheard in the lower courts following a successful appeal at the Court of Appeal.

The Appellant was living in London when his parents allegedly took him to Ghana under the pretence of visiting a family member that was unwell. The teenager claims that he was subsequently enrolled in a Ghanian Boarding school, because his parents feared that he would be drawn into criminal activity if he stayed in London.

The teenager’s bid to return to the UK was initially rejected by the High Court, but on appeal, the most senior Judge of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane raised concerns with the previous decision:

“We have become more and more concerned as to the exercise the judge undertook […] For those reasons - we are agreed remittal should be allowed."

The decision is likely to be of significance for cross-border family disputes as well as the law’s recognition of the individual autonomy of minors subject to parental authority.

The remitted hearing is expected to be heard in the next few weeks.

 

11 June 2025


Discovery of Caribbean shipwreck ignites international legal dispute


In 1708, The San Jose, a Spanish galleon was transporting a trove of gold, silver, emeralds amongst other valued items, from Peru to Spain, with the hopes of funding Spain’s war effort against Britain during the war of succession.

It was sailing beside Baru Island off Cartagena, Columbia, when a British Royal Navy squadron under the command of Charles Wager intercepted and sank the vessel with powder magazines, giving Britain a crucial advantage during the war that saw it take Gibraltar, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia.

After more than 300 years, the shipwreck - initially found in 2015 - has been verified by academics in Columbia. The cargo is estimated to hold as much as £16 billion in value.

Claims have been made by Colombia, Spain, Peru, indigenous communities in the area, the miners’ descendants, and Glocca Morra a private treasure-hunting firm which claims to have found the wreck as far back as 1981. They are also bringing a legal challenge against a 2020 Columbian law that established the shipwreck as government property.

How this dispute between nations will be remedied, remains to be seen.

 

11 June 2025

ICJ Judge resigns from World Court

Following on from the appointment of Judge Hmoud last month, the ICJ announced that Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf will step down, with his resignation to take effect from 30 September 2025.

The Somali jurist and lawyer has advised numerous organisations, including UNESCO, UNIDO, and UNCTAD, as well as a served as a professor in numerous academic institutions.

Yusuf was first appointed to the Court’s permanent panel 2009. He served as the Court’s Vice-president from 2015 until 2018, before assuming the role of its President until 2021.

 

10 June 2025

Brazilian Legislators mull bill to liberalise environmental licensing requirements|

Lawmakers in Brazil are reportedly considering the introduction of the General Environmental Licensing Law (LGLA) which would accelerate oil and gas extraction, cattle farming, and wider deforestation in the Amazon.|

Bill 2.159/21 would create a special license that would expedite investment deemed to be strategic by the Government, irrespective of its wider impact on the environment.

Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva has been reportedly anticipating an “avalanche of litigation” challenging the unconstitutionality of the Bill.

The Bill’s discussion will intersect with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) which is due to be hosted in Belém, in November 2025.

 

9 June 2025

Amnesty International: Interception and detention of Aid yacht travelling to Gaza a ‘flout’ of international law

A yacht carrying aid to Gaza, has been intercepted by Israeli forces. The Madleen, manned by Swedish rights activist Greta Thunberg, as part of 12-person crew, set sail from Catania in Italy on 1 June before it was intercepted by Israeli forces.

The boat aimed to break Israel’s alleged blockage of aid and humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip.

Commenting on these events, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

“As the occupying power Israel has an international obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient and safe access to food, medicine, and other supplies indispensable to their survival. Instead, and as part of its calculated effort to inflict on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life designed to bring about their physical destruction, it has consistently and deliberately impeded the provision of impartial humanitarian assistance for civilians in desperate need.”

(N.B. As of 13 June; 10 of the 12 persons who were detained, have now been deported. Two French nationals are reported to be in Israeli custody with deportation pending.)


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