The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 06 January to 12 January 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.
11 January 2025
EU bans ‘Turkaegean’ slogan launched by Turkey following Greece’s appeal
The European Union banned the trademark “Turkaegean” for Turkish tourism campaigns following an appeal by Greece. The EU’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) canceled the slogan that had been registered by the Turkish Tourism Organization for use within the EU, according to a judgment reported by Greek media.
Territorial sovereignty within the Aegean Sea has been a contentious issue between the two neighboring countries, whose summer economies rely heavily on tourism. After Turkey had launched a “Turkeagean Coast of Happiness” tourism campaign. Greece filed a case against the use of the slogan, arguing that the “Turkaegean” trademark reflects geopolitical ambitions. Turkish authorities now have two months to appeal the decision and four months to provide written reasons for the appeal.
10 January 2025
US House votes to sanction ICC over Israel arrest warrants
The US House of Representatives voted Thursday to impose sanctions against foreign persons who have taken part in or aided efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to “investigate, detain, or prosecute” protected persons under US law, which includes the government officials of allies. In its current form, Section 3 of the bill, titled the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,” would require the US president to sanction both foreign persons who engaged in or aided ICC actions against protected persons and those who materially, financially, or technologically supported such efforts. A person sanctioned under the bill would be made inadmissible to the US and have their property and property interests within the US or under the control of a US citizen or permanent resident frozen.
The vote follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which were issued alongside that of Hamas commander Mohammed Deif. The US has consistently rejected the court’s jurisdiction over Israel as it is not a state party to the Rome Statute. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken argued that the principle of complementarity under Article 1 requires that the ICC allow Israel’s legal system to undertake its own investigation before intervening and further criticized the court’s decision to issue the warrants as potentially jeopardizing rescue efforts for hostages and delaying humanitarian assistance.
9 January 2025
Germany approves tribunal to decide Nazi-looted art claims
Germany’s government approved a reform to help the heirs of Jewish collectors recover Nazi-looted art, introducing a binding arbitration tribunal to adjudicate claims. The new body replaces an advisory panel, whose decisions could not be legally enforced. The new system allows claimants to bring cases without the agreement of a disputed artwork’s current holder. Under the previous system, that consent was required before the advisory panel could consider a claim.
It is argued that the reform would enable Germany to better live up to its historical responsibilities and meet its commitment under the Washington Principles – the nonbinding guidelines endorsed by the 44 countries in 1998, which paved the way for five European countries to establish claims processes: Germany, Austria, Britain, France and the Netherlands. The 26-year-old principles were reinforced last year by a new “best practices” agreement that specified claimants should have access to national adjudication panels even if the current holder of an artwork does not consent. However, a group of lawyers, historians and heirs of Jewish collectors said the reform was “clearly a change for the worse” and argued that the criteria for decisions by the new tribunal — which have not been published yet — could increase the burden of proof for heirs and exclude victim groups whose claims were recognized under the current system.
9 January 2025
Nickel mining projects in the Philippines are approved despite serious risks to human rights and inadequate consultation of communities
A report published by Amnesty International titled “What do we get in return? How the Philippines nickel boom harms human rights” reveals that Indigenous Peoples and rural communities in the Philippines are being subjected to numerous human rights abuses amid a rapid expansion in the mining of nickel. The Philippines is the world’s largest exporter of nickel ore, which is a key component in lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles and renewable storage units. In the provinces of Zambales and Palawan – home to some of the largest nickel deposits in the Philippines – deforestation and environmental damage linked to nickel mining operations is undermining the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment of Indigenous People and rural communities. As a result, communities report adverse harms to their livelihoods, access to water and health.
The report documents failings to adequately consult local communities and obtain consent from Indigenous Peoples about nickel mining projects which have left deforestation, metal contamination and health problems in their wake in the provinces of Zambales and Palawan. It is highly likely that nickel mined from these sites is entering the supply chains of major electric vehicle (EV) companies. Further, the report shows how Indigenous and rural communities did not receive adequate explanations about the human rights and environmental risks of nickel mining, and were denied proper consultations on the mining projects, despite protections in both domestic and international law. Such protections require states to ensure that communities are meaningfully consulted on extractive projects, and in the case of projects that impact Indigenous Peoples, obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
8 January 2025
Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan releases material revealing concerns over UK Special Forces operations
The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, released the redacted documents, witness statements, and summaries of oral evidence given during closed hearings, revealing a culture of impunity, failure of oversight, and accusations of unlawful killings by British Special Forces between 2010 and 2013. A former senior UK Special Forces officer has told a public inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan that the Special Air Service (SAS) had a “golden pass allowing them to get away with murder”. Soldiers who were part of British special forces working in Afghanistan have told the inquiry of their concerns that Afghans who posed no threat had been murdered in raids against suspected Taliban insurgents, including some aged under 16.
The independent inquiry was ordered by Britain’s defence ministry after a BBC TV documentary reported that soldiers from the SAS had killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances during the war in Afghanistan more than a decade ago. The investigation is examining a number of night-time raids called deliberate detention operations carried out by British forces from mid-2010 to mid-2013.