Outline Chambers Briefings | International Legal News
13 July 2026
Each week, Outline Chambers provides a concise overview of key developments across international law, arbitration and global governance.
This week's edition of International Legal News highlights key developments in environmental law, the rule of law, human rights, and international dispute resolution. Featured stories include the UK's ratification of the High Seas Treaty, concerns over civil society restrictions in Georgia, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, developments in Gaza, and a new analysis of the PCA's interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
10 July 2026
Environmental Law: UK ratifies landmark treaty
It is reported that the United Kingdom has ratified the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (“BBNJ”) also known as the High Seas Treaty, in a move that is expected to contribute to efforts in protecting up to two-thirds of the world’s oceans.
The new agreement establishes for the first time a legal mechanism to create marine protected areas in the high seas to conserve vulnerable habitats.
For more on this story, see here.
9 July 2026
Rule of Law: New Laws have chilling effect on civil society
The NGO Human Rights Watch alleges that a series of increasingly repressive laws and politically motivated criminal investigations are having an adverse consequence for the operation of civil society actors in the Georgia.
They report that since 2024, new laws have created registration requirements, funding restrictions, and criminal penalties on non-governmental organisations, individuals, and media outlets which receive foreign funding, which will lead to fears of a chilling effect in the region.
For more on this story, see here.
8 July 2026
Blog Corner: “The Award in Rwanda versus the United Kingdom: The PCA’s Interpretation of VCLT, Article 13”
A post in EJIL: Talk! by Kevin W. Gray, provides an analysis of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (“PCA”) decision in the dispute between Rwanda and the United Kingdom following the latter’s decision to cancel an Agreement to use the former as a hub for the deportation of asylum seekers.
Gray focuses on the PCA’s analysis of Article 13 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (“VCLT”) which hitherto, has been an underused and underexamined provision of the VCLT, but on which determination of the dispute turned.
To read this article, see here.
7 July 2026
Rule of Law: Hamas dissolves governance of Gaza
It has been reported that the leaders of the militant group Hamas which has governed Gaza for nearly two decades are to dissolve its governance of the region and disband. The move is an act of compliance with terms of the peace deal brokered by the United States to reform the region.
Gaza will be governed by an interim technocratic governmental body referred to as the National Committee of the Administration of Gaza (“NCAG”) that is temporarily headquartered in Cairo and which answers to the Board of Peace, an international organisation established by President Donald Trump.
For more on this story, see here.
6 July 2026
Human Rights: Escalating conflict in Sudan results in further casualties
The United Nations Children’s Fund (“UNICEF”) reported Monday that more than 300 children were killed or injured in Sudan during the first six months of 2026, following reports of intensive fighting in Darfur and Kordofan.
Tragically, child casualties are believed to be the highest category of victim from the conflict. Drone strikes and shelling have damaged homes, schools, and health facilities as well as frustrated humanitarian supply routes.
The conflict in the region, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (“SAF”) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (“RSF”) began in April 2023. According to UNICEF, the conflict has resulted in the displacement of five million children.
For more on this story, see here.
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