International Legal News - 6 May 2025
- Ned Vucijak
- May 6
- 3 min read
Updated: May 12
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 28 April to 05 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.
5 May 2025
ICJ rejects Sudan’s request for provisional measures against the UAE and removes case from docket
The ICJ delivered its Order on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Sudan in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Sudan (Sudan v. United Arab Emirates).
The Court noted that the UAE, when acceding to the Genocide Convention, formulated a reservation to Article IX, seeking to exclude the jurisdiction of the Court. Having regard to the UAE’s reservation to Article IX of the Genocide Convention, the Court observed that Article IX of that Convention cannot constitute, prima facie, a basis for the jurisdiction of the Court in the present case. It followed that the Court could not indicate the provisional measures requested.
The Court did recall, however, that there was a fundamental distinction between the question of acceptance by States of the Court’s jurisdiction and the conformity of their acts with international law. Whether or not States have accepted the jurisdiction of the Court under the Genocide Convention, they are still required to comply with their obligations under that instrument, and they remain responsible for acts attributable to them which are contrary to their international
obligations.
5 May 2025
UN Secretary General demands a halt to acts of violence in Syria
UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the violence against civilians in Syria and Israel’s violation of Syria’s sovereignty, following airstrikes near the presidential palace in Damascus.
The UN Secretary General expressed concern over the violence in the suburbs of Damascus, including assassinations of local administration figures. Additionally, Guterres called for an immediate halt to all hostilities and for the parties to avoid further escalation as a pathway to security, stability, and respect for Syria’s territorial integrity. Dujarric said, “It is essential that these attacks stop and that Israel respect Syria’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence”.
5 May 2025
British individuals to challenge UK’s ‘weak’ response to climate crisis at the European Court of Human Rights
Doug Paulley and Kevin Jordan say their lives have been ruined by the rising temperatures and extreme weather caused by the climate crisis, and that the government’s response fails to respect their human rights. Paulley, who has multiple disabilities exacerbated by rising temperatures, and Jordan, whose seaside home was demolished after severe storms and rising sea level put it at risk of being washed away, say the UK’s approach to the changing climate is flawed.
Paulley and Jordan, along with Friends of the Earth, the third claimant in the case, argue that the UK’s third national adaptation programme (Nap3) fails to consider the impact of climate change on marginalised groups, set out lawful “adaptation objectives” or adequately assess risks to the delivery of its plans.
In their submission to the ECHR, they will argue that the UK is out of compliance with human rights requirements in how it currently plans for and implements climate adaptation under the Climate Change Act.
2 May 2025
Human Rights Watch statement to the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
At the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, HRW has drawn attention to four ongoing human rights concerns across the African continent.
Briefly, HRW has called the African Commission to: (1) Ensure Zimbabwe addresses ongoing human rights abuses and upholds the rule of law; (2) Investigate and condemn extrajudicial killings and other abuses in counterterrorism operations across the continent; (3) Advocate for the rights of the Chagossian people in the UK-Mauritius treaty negotiations; and (4) Take decisive action to address the human rights and humanitarian crises and widespread impunity in the conflicts in Sudan and the eastern DRC.