By: Jocelyn Anctil 

Impunity Watch News Staff Writer 

NUEVA SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – On October 6, 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights received a submission to hear Case 12.787, Natividad de Jesús Ramírez and Family v. El Salvador. This case arises from the extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances of several Ramírez family members in 1982, after they were labeled subversive enemies during El Salvador’s civil war, when the military government targeted Catholic Church activists as communist threats. 

During El Salvador’s internal armed conflict (1980-1991), the Ramírez family was active in the Catholic Church which subjected them to raids, threats, arrests, and assaults by public state officers. In 1982, state forces killed Rufino and Teresa Ramírez, while five other family members, Natividad de Jesús Ramírez, Salvador Ramírez, José Elías Ramírez, Jorge Alberto Ramírez, and Guadalupe Roble, were forcibly disappeared and their whereabouts remain unknown today. 

Since then, the Ramírez family has made numerous efforts to find answers and bring justice to their family, including seeking assistance from the Attorney General of El Salvador and the Inter-American Commission. The Commission launched an investigation and concluded that El Salvador is responsible for violating multiple rights of the victims, including their right to life in Merits Report 150/23. The Merits Report was sent to El Salvador and after efforts to reach a settlement failed, the Commission submitted the case to the Court.  

The victims’ family wants the truth about what happened to their loved ones and accountability for their loss. They claim, and the Commission found, that El Salvador failed to investigate, preserve crime scenes, perform autopsies, or conduct effective searches. The Commission’s recommendations urge the Court to order El Salvador to investigate disappearances, identify remains, provide healthcare to relatives, pursue criminal investigations with gender perspective, and adopt non-recurrence measures like DNA databases and accession to the Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons. 

Although the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has yet to decide whether to accept the case, doing so would give the Court an opportunity to clarify the standards of investigation and specialized procedures required of each state when cases involve disappeared persons. 

This case represents the challenge of holding El Salvador’s government for what occurred during the civil war, during which an estimated 75,000 civilians were killed or forcibly disappeared, with 85% of violence committed by state forces according to the UN Truth Commission. El Salvador’s amnesty law, which blocked prosecution of civil war atrocities, was struck down by the Inter-American Court in 2012 and invalidated by El Savador’s Supreme Court in 2016. However, investigations into civil war crimes have remained stagnant with many cases still in impunity decades later. 

For Further Information Please See: 

Caso de ejecuciones extrajudiciales y desapariciones de la familia Ramírez es presentado ante la Corte IDH – VOCES Diario digital | El Salvador 

El Salvador: Tackling Impunity Past and Present – Inter-American Dialogue 

El Salvador – CJA 

IACHR takes to Inter-American Court case concerning extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in El Salvador 

January 16, 2025 

By: Ethan Kassem, Journal of Global Rights and Organizations, Associate Articles Editor   

Individuals with disabilities have a legal right to participate in decisions that impact their lives according to international human rights law. Against that backdrop, states are generally required by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to actively and closely consult with individuals with disabilities along with the organizations that represent them when developing laws and policies that impact such individuals. Accordingly, Australia’s recent policy changes offer an increasing attempt at matching both national and international programs with evolving legal requirements for participation and inclusion.  

The Australian government announced a historic $50 million investment on December 3, 2025, aimed at bolstering disability rights throughout the Indo-Pacific area through its flagship program “Stronger Movements, Stronger Futures.” Despite the disproportionate number of individuals with disabilities residing in the Indo-Pacific, the announcement was made to coincide with the International Day of People with Disabilities, signifying both a symbolic and practical commitment at advancing equality and inclusion in an area where disability remains widely under-addressed in law, policy, and development practice.  

The initiative, which primarily aims to strengthen organizations led by individuals with disabilities by enabling their participation in national, regional, and international decision-making, represents the largest Australian international investment specifically dedicated to disability rights and equality. This initiative seeks to foster collaboration and peer-to-peer learning in order to build a stronger and more unified disability rights movement. Additionally, this policy aligns with the growing body of international human rights legislation concerning the participation and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.  

As part of this investment, Australia will partner with three leading organizations of people with disabilities: the International Disability Alliance, Pacific Disability Forum, and ASEAN Disability. Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, has gone on to state that this movement primarily seeks as a means of empowering individuals with disabilities to lead change, remove barriers, and create opportunities for full and equal participation in society. Australia has since placed a large emphasis on its commitment to removing barriers and creating opportunities for full participation in society nothing that inclusive societies demonstrate greater potential for both economic growth and social cohesion. 

Unlike prior disability-related funding, which sought to place a larger emphasis on support services, this initiative primarily seeks to invest in the infrastructure of the disability rights movements themselves. By funding disability-led organizations rather than what might be deemed a more “traditional” assistance program, this initiative serves as an effective means of strengthening the ability for individuals with disabilities to have a larger influence on government legislation while holding governments accountable. Australia’s initiative highlights the fact that disability rights are viewed as an essential feature of human rights governance and democratic participation, as opposed to an incidental social issue.  

For further information, please see:  

ADDC welcomes landmark investment to advance disability rights in the Indo-Pacific 

Australia invests $50 million to strengthen disability rights across the Indo-Pacific 

Australia Pledges $50M to Boost Indo-Pacific Disability Rights 

CBM Australia welcomes investment to bolster disability rights in the Indo-Pacific  

How institutional investment is reshaping specialist disability accommodation in Australia 

By: Mya DeJoseph  

Journal of Global Rights and Organizations, Associate Articles Editor  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rhaman, also known as “Ali Kushayb,” was sentenced by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on December 9, 2025, to 20 years imprisonment. Back in October 2025, Abd-Al-Rahman was convicted of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection to his involvement in events taking place in Darfur, Sudan between August 2003 and March 2004.  

Background  

In the early 2000s, conflict began between the Government of Sudan, backed by the Janjaweed militia, and Darfur rebel groups. During this time, Abd-Al-Rahman was a senior leader of the Janjaweed who conducted coordinated attacks in villages of Darfur whom the Janjaweed believed to be in support of the rebellion against the Government of Sudan.  

 After being charged with 31 counts in connection to war crimes and crimes against humanity between 2003 and 2004, Abd-Al-Rahman surrendered himself to the International Criminal Court in 2020. Following a trial taking place over a period of 2.5 years, Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty of 27 charges relating to murder, sexually violent crimes, forcible transfer, pillaging, torture, and outrages upon personal dignity. He was found to have both given orders to the Janjaweed which led to these crimes, as well as being a direct perpetrator himself.   

 Sentencing  

In its sentencing procedures, the ICC has broad discretion and seeks to achieve aims of retribution and deterrence through its punishments. The sentence given must be proportional to the crime committed, appropriately reflect culpability of the defendant, and take into consideration all relevant circumstances, including the gravity of the crimes, aggravating factors, and mitigating factors.  

The Prosecution sought a joint sentence of life imprisonment, highlighting Abd-Al-Rahman’s deep involvement in the crimes, the profound impact of his crimes on the community, the cruelty of these crimes, and the defenseless victims. The Defense argued a life sentence to be inappropriate, urging Abd-Al-Rahman’s immediate release, or in the alternative a seven-year imprisonment sentence. In offering mitigation, the Defense submitted to the court that a life sentence for Abd-Al-Rahman would not be appropriate considering his age, personal circumstances, his degree of culpability, his lack of prior criminal history, and the fact that he voluntarily surrendered himself to the ICC.  

In sentencing Abd-Al-Rahman to 20 years imprisonment, the Chamber noted that the sentence would have been longer had the mitigation offered by the Defense not been accepted. The Chamber found this sentence to be appropriate considering the purposes of punishment, the victims’ harm and suffering, Abd-Al-Rahman’s good behavior while in detention, and his voluntary surrender. The Chamber also noted factual overlap between some of the crimes, which played a role in the sentencing determination.  

The time that Abd-Al-Rahman has already spent in detention, which began after his voluntary surrender and subsequent custody on June 9, 2020, will be accounted for as “time served” and will be deducted from his sentence.  

Significance 

This is the only trial that has taken place after the United Nations Security Council referred the Darfur situation in 2005 to the ICC, and conflict in the region is ongoing. Other individuals in Sudan are wanted by the ICC for their roles in genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including former President of Sudan Omar Al Bashir.  However, Abd-Al-Rahman’s conviction is regarded as a step forward and a sense of justice for those victimized by the Janjaweed.  

For further information, please see:  

Coalition for the International Criminal Court – Truth, Justice, and Dignity: Two decades on, justice reaches Darfur with the Abd-al Rahman conviction – Oct. 10, 2025 

Courthouse News Service – Darfur militia chief Ali Kushayb sentenced to 20-year prison term by ICC – Dec. 9, 2025 

Human Rights Watch – ICC Sentences Former Sudanese Militia Leader to 20 Years – Dec. 15, 2025 

Summary of Trial Chamber I’s Sentencing Judgement in the Case of The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (‘Ali Kushayb’) – 9 Dec. 2025 

The International Criminal Court – Abd-Al-Rahman Case 

The International Criminal Court – Situation in Darfur, Sudan  

The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (‘Ali Kushayb’), International Criminal Court, Trial Judgement – 6 Oct. 2025 

 

 

Christina Bradic

Managing Editor of Impunity Watch News 

New York, New York — On 11 November 2025, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convened in New York for a plenary debate under Agenda Item 74 : The Report of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This annual review of the ICC’s activities unfolded at a critical inflection point for the global justice system, as the Court faces unprecedented political pressures, challenges in state cooperation, and existential threats to its independence.  

Judge Tomoko Akane, President of the ICC, delivered the institution’s 2025 Annual Report, underscoring both its judicial work and the growing obstacles to its mission. In her address, Akane warned that “attacks, threats and coercive measures against the Court and its officials pose a serious threat to the administration of justice by the Court and to the global fight against impunity.”   

The backdrop to these remarks is striking. Over the past year, member states and civil society have documented multiple instances of non-cooperation with arrest warrants, cyberattacks, and economic and visa sanctions targeting ICC judges and prosecutors, notably through a U.S. Executive Order imposing sanctions on the Court in February 2025.  These measures were triggered in part by ICC decisions related to investigations in Palestine and other high-profile situations and have become a flashpoint in debates over the Court’s legitimacy and reach. 

Akane’s message was clear: the fight against impunity requires unwavering multilateral support. She reiterated that “crimes that shock the conscience of humanity continue to plague this world,” and that only robust cooperation with states and institutions can enable justice to reach victims and survivors wherever national systems fail.  

Following the President’s report, a chorus of States Parties reaffirmed their commitment to the ICC. In a statement delivered on behalf of the European Union, representatives characterized the Court as a “cornerstone of the international fight against impunity,” urged all states to honor cooperation obligations, and condemned attacks on the Court’s personnel and mandate.  Other delegations echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for both political and practical backing as the ICC navigates an increasingly polarized political landscape. 

The resonance of this debate extended beyond the halls of the United Nations. In the run-up to the 24th Assembly of States Parties (ASP24), scheduled in The Hague from 1–6 December 2025, civil society actors and advocacy groups used the UNGA moment to amplify calls for decisive action. Human rights organizations have urged states not merely to issue statements of support, but to translate political goodwill into cooperation on arrest warrants, financial support, and defense of judicial independence.   

At its heart, the UNGA debate illuminated a broader tension in the international justice architecture: as grave crimes proliferate in conflicts from Ukraine to Sudan and beyond, the institutions designed to hold perpetrators accountable are themselves under pressure from geopolitical interests and selective compliance. The ICC’s annual report and the subsequent state debate were thus not only a routine procedural milestone but a crucial political moment, one that showcased both enduring commitment from many states and persistent fault lines in the global fight against impunity. 

If the ICC is to endure as a credible mechanism for accountability, the support expressed at UNGA must translate into concrete cooperation and protection of judicial independence, a challenge that states will revisit in The Hague and beyond. 

For Further Reading: 

Anadolu Agency – International Criminal Court President Urges Global Cooperation to Enforce Arrest Warrants– 12 November 2025 

Coalition for the International Criminal Court – ICC President Akane Presents the Court’s Annual Report to the UN General Assembly – 18 November 2025 

Common Dreams – Mexico, Rights Groups Push Back Against Sanctions Targeting International Criminal Court – 13 November 2025 

European External Action Service (EEAS) – EU Statement at the UN General Assembly on the Report of the International Criminal Court – 11 November 2025 

FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) – Will States Parties Protect the International Criminal Court or Let It Be Undermined? – 30 October 2025 

Human Rights Watch – Briefing Note for the Twenty-Fourth Session of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties – 19 November 2025 

United Nations e-Statements – Statement by Judge Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court, to the UN General Assembly — Presentation of the ICC’s 2025 Annual Report – 11 November 2025 

By: Tiffany D. Johnson 

Impunity Watch News Staff Writer 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ten years after launching their landmark climate lawsuit against the U.S. government, a group of youth activists have brought their fight for environmental justice to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), arguing that America’s long-standing fossil fuel policies violate international law and endanger basic human rights — including the rights to life, health, and equality. 

Fifteen of the original Juliana v. United States plaintiffs filed their petition on September 23, 2025, represented by the nonprofit Our Children’s Trust, arguing that U.S. fossil-fuel policies violate international law and endanger the rights to life, health, and equality. 

Background 
The petition comes a year after the Juliana case — which accused the U.S. government of violating the constitutional rights of youth by promoting fossil fuel dependence — was dismissed by U.S. courts. With domestic remedies exhausted, the petitioners turned to the regional human rights system. 

The IACHR, headquartered in Washington, D.C., reviews complaints under the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, which protects the rights to life, liberty, security, health, and equality before the law. The youth argue that by expanding fossil fuel production and denying them access to meaningful remedies, the United States has breached these obligations and committed an internationally wrongful act. 

Their appeal follows two historic Advisory Opinions on climate change, one issued on May 29 by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and another on July 23 by the International Court of Justice, both recognizing climate change as a human rights emergency. The IACtHR ruling — the first to declare climate change a human rights emergency — found that States have binding legal duties to adopt ambitious, science-based, and equity-centered climate action. According to the Court, failure to prevent climate harm violates fundamental rights, including those to life, personal integrity, and a healthy environment. 

Justice and Health in the Climate Crisis 
For the petitioners, the crisis is personal. Rising seas, extreme storms, and heat events have destroyed homes and schools, displaced families, and worsened public health conditions. “We were born into a rights violation,” said petitioner Levi Draheim, now 18. “Our home, our safety, and our health have all been compromised.” 

The filing argues that climate change, driven by government policy choices, has deprived young people of the ability to enjoy a safe and stable climate system — a precondition for exercising every other human right. Citing the IACtHR’s opinion, the petition underscores that States and corporations share a legal duty to prevent irreversible climate damage, regulate high-emitting industries, and protect vulnerable communities most affected by environmental harm. 

Significance 
If accepted, the petition would mark the first time an international human-rights tribunal undertakes a full review of U.S. climate policy. 

Together, the IACtHR’s Advisory Opinion and the IACHR petition form a powerful one-two statement: climate inaction is not merely environmental neglect — it is a human rights violation. For the youth petitioners, the message is clear: protecting the planet is inseparable from protecting life and health. 

As the Commission considers their plea, their case may help define a new frontier in international law — one where justice for the climate becomes synonymous with justice for humanity. 

For further information, please see:

The Guardian — US is violating human rights laws by backing fossil fuels, say young activists in new petition —Sep, 25 2025   

Inside Climate News — Climate Activists Thwarted in U.S. Courts Are Headed to an International Tribunal for Review — Sep. 29 2025  

Center for International Environmental Law — What a Historic Inter-American Court Ruling Means for Global Climate Justice — Nov. 6 2025  

International Court of Justice — ICJ Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 23 July 2025: Obligations of the States in respect of Climate Change — Jul. 23 2025 

Inter-American Court of Human Rights — IACtHR Advisory Opinion of 29 May 2025: Climate Emergency and Human Rights – May 29 2025 

United States District Court — Juliana v. United States, 339 F. Supp. 3d 1062 (D. Or. 2018) — June 1 2023 

United States Ninth District Court of Appeals — Juliana v. United States, 947 F.3d 1159 — Jan 17 2020