International Legal News - 2 June 2025
- Ned Vucijak
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 26 May to 31 May 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.
31 May 2025
El Salvador urged to repeal “Foreign Agents” law, to protect free press
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged El Salvador to repeal its “foreign agents” law which was approved on 20 May by the Legislative Assembly where President Nayib Bukele’s party holds a majority.
The law requires organizations and individuals who receive international funding to register with the Ministry of Interior and imposes a 30% tax on those funds, as well as powers to monitor, fine, or shut down those who fail to comply.
It is feared that the provisions of the law will allow for arbitrary classification and suppression of freelance reporters, nonprofit workers, and other persons as hostile actors due to their engagement with international partnerships, with some observers reported to hold the view that the new law is part of a broader effort for the consolidation of power in El Salvador.
The Committee says it presents a risk to press freedom and to civil society.
30 May 2025
China sets up new international body in Hong Kong
The Chinese government has signed a convention which creates an international mediation organisation located in Hong Kong, that will rival the ICJ and further raise Hong Kong’s profile as a centre for mediation.
The Convention on the Establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) was signed on Friday in a ceremony attended by several countries including Indonedia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, and Serbia.
The new body is expected to oversee inter-state disputes, states and nationals from foreign nations, and between private international entities.
30 May 2025
US Appeals Court allows the Trump administration to continue imposing sweeping tariffs, granting an emergency motion to stay a lower court decision, granted by the US Court of International Trade.
The trade court held that the proposed tariffs were unconstitutional because the President has exceeded the scope of the powers granted to him under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Stay was granted after an emergency motion filed by the Acting Assistant Attorney General which argued that the trade court’s judgment risked undermining the president’s foreign policy decision making and diplomatic negotiations, presenting a risk to economic well-being and national security.
29 May 2025
Scottish bill to criminalise ecocide to be debated by Scottish Parliament
Labour Member of Scottish Parliament, Monica Lennon, introduced the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, which would create a new offence of “causing severe environmental harm either intentionally or through recklessness”.
The legislation would introduce sentences of up to 20 years for offenders, as well as publicity orders, mandatory environmental remediation and unlimited financial penalties. The bill would also enable for the prosecution of senior executives at companies where offences occur with their consent or neglect.
29 May 2025
UN Middle East Envoy warns Gaze at breaking point, urges ceasefire and aid access
The interim UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process, Sigrid Kaag, called for humanitarian aid to be made available for the population of Gaza which is being “starved and denied the very basics” in the region.
29 May 2025
Attorney General affirms UK’s commitment to International Law
At the Royal United Services Institute Annual Security Lecture on Thursday, the Attorney General, Richard Hermer KC reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment to international law, calling for a rejection of a pick-and-mix approach, in an open rebuke of the Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, and Shadow Attorney General, Lord Wolfson, both of whom have challenged government ministers for following international norms rigidly.
Hermer argued: “It is a great British value to say that we want to make the world a better, safer and more prosperous place. There is no contradiction in our view between approaching the world with both a hard head but also a warm heart.”
28 May 2025
UK whistleblower threatens claim against Interpol
A UK whistleblower who exposed corruption at Dutch oil services company SBM Offshore has threatened to bring an arbitration against Interpol over his “politically motivated” prosecution by Monaco authorities.
Mr. Taylor has faced protracted legal proceedings over the last decade, culminating in extradition proceedings requested by Monaco, following their attainment of an INTERPOL Red Notice against him. Mr. Taylor was only able to return to the UK after the extradition request was discharged following an intervention by the Croatian Government.
He now seeks to issue arbitral proceedings with INTERPOL in light of the consequences of their decision to acquiesce to a what he maintains was a politically motivated red notice request.
Mr. Taylor is represented by Toby Cadman Co-Head of G37 Chambers and Anastasia Medvedskaya
27 May 2025
New judicial appointment for the International Court of Justice
The Jordanian diplomat and legal scholar Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud, has been elected to serve as a Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Mr. Hmoud has previously served as Jordan’s Ambassador to the UN in New York since September 2021, and as chairman of the International Law Commission, a UN body that promotes the development and codification of international law. His appointment will substitute Nawaf Salam who resigned in January in order to assume his role as the newly elected Prime Minister of Lebanon.
Candidates must secure an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council, or 97 and eight votes respectively. All 15 Council members voted in his favor while in the General Assembly, which comprises all 193 UN Member States, he received the support of 178 out of 181 countries who took part in the vote.
He will serve the remainder of Judge Salam’s term, until 5 February 2027.
27 May 2025
Hundreds of Lawyers call for UK sanctions on Israel’s actions in Gaza
Roughly 820+ UK qualified or based legal experts, including former Supreme Court Justices have signed a letter calling on the Prime Minister to use “all available means” to stop the fighting in Gaza, including reviewing trade ties with Israel and the imposition of sanctions and travel bans on Israeli ministers.
The group includes two former Supreme Court Justices, Lord Wilson and Lord Sumption, and the former Chair of the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales Andrew Hall KC.
The signatories have warned that “genocide is being perpetrated in Gaza” as a consequence of a blockage affecting food and aid, as well as a new military offensive which has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the last two weeks.
The Letter can be found here: https://lawyersletter.uk/
26 May 2025
UN experts express concern over continued detention of Azerbaijan rights defender
Concerns have been raised over the year-long detention of Anar Mammadli.
Mammadli was the chair of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre (EMDS) before he was arrested on allegedly dubious charges following investigations into possible smuggling and money laundering. If convicted, he could face seven to 12 years in prison. His detention comes following the EMDS’s publication of a report identifying irregularities during the February 2024 elections.
In February 2025, a letter sent by human rights experts and the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, requested information on the nature of Mammadli’s prosecution and charges, and concerns over his deteriorating health. All allegations have been denied by the Azerbaijani government.
These present charges follow a previous instance in 2013 when Mammadli was detained and sentenced on similar charges. In 2018, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held that Mammadli’s arrest constituted a clear violation of the right to liberty under Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
It is reported that as of December 2024, there are at least 331 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.