International Legal News - 20 April 2026
- 17 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 13 April to 17 April 2026. 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.
17 April 2026
Sanctions: Suspected Irish crime boss arrested in Dubai
The Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has reported that the suspected crime boss, Daniel Kinahan has been arrested in Dubai under a warrant issued by the Irish courts. Kinahan, was the subject to US imposed sanctions in April 2022 after both he and other members of his family were allegedly identified as leaders of the Kinahan crime cartel.
Kinahan himself, also is known for his involvement in sport, through his now defunct boxing management company, MTK Global, which has represented more than 100 boxers, including Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton.
The BBC reports that “Dubai police say the arrest was made on Wednesday, 15 April after intensive search and surveillance operations.”
For more on this story, see here.
16 April 2026
Business and Human Rights: NGO calls for accountability for lead poisoning in Zambia
The human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) has called for Zambia to provide accountability over failure to clean up a contaminated mine site that is blamed for ongoing lead poisoning of children.
The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (“IHRDA”), together with Zambian nongovernmental organizations, with affected families have filed a complaint to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (“ACERWC”). They seek accountability and urgent remedies for associated health consequences affecting the local populace.
It is reported that children in Kabwe, have been exposed to toxic lead waste, which is particularly harmful for children, resulting in possible cognitive impairment, irreversible health effects, and even premature death.
For more on this story, see here.
15 April 2026
State-Arbitration: Bosnian power plant dispute to settle
The state electricity producer in Slovenia, has reportedly agreed a €37.4 million settlement to a dispute with a Bosnian state-owned power plant operator. The settlement brings an end to an ICSID claim against Bosnia and Herzegovina, that has been paused over the last six years.
For more on this story, see here.
14 April 2026
Rule of Law: Peru extends presidential election after private contractor failed to deliver ballots to polling stations
Peru’s national office of Electoral Process (“ONPE”) has extended its presidential and congressional elections into a second day, after a private contractor failed to deliver ballots to dozens of polling stations across Lima, preventing more than 52,000 citizens from voting on time.
The apex electoral court in Peru, the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (“JNE”) approved ONPE’s request for an extraordinary voting session, for 13 polling centres, in Lima. The extension also applies to Peruvian voters registered in Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey.
For more on this story, see here.
13 April 2026
Cultural Heritage: France’s new restitution law passes final vote
It is reported that nine years after French President Emmanuel Macron pledged repatriation of African cultural heritage, the French parliament has adopted a new framework on 13 April 2026, for the deaccession of cultural items said to have been plundered from France’s former colonies. The law pertains to items between June 1815 and April 1972.
The new law reportedly provides a new means by which such items can be repatriated. The new law, began in 2023 as a bill, that has been delayed by the political turmoil and government changes over the last few years.
Under the provisions, the request for a restitution must be introduced by a state, which would commit to protecting the items in question, and displaying them to the public. The new law extents to items as far back as 1815. Although the vote was unanimous, some members of the French Parliament are reported to have expressed reservations of the limitation, as this would exclude plunder from Napoleon’s army throughout Europe and Egypt, but also earlier transfers from the Americas.
For more on this story, see here.