Published on 20 February 2024 in Client Alerts

Barbados, advised by Volterra Fietta, files a submission to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on the request for an Advisory Opinion on the Climate Emergency and Human Rights

On 18 December 2023, using Volterra Fietta as legal counsel, Barbados filed a written submission to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights concerning the obligation of States who are Parties to the American Convention on Human Rights to address the climate emergency.

The Inter-American Court on Human Rights had previously accepted the request for an Advisory Opinion on the Climate Emergency and Human Rights, as filed by the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Chile on 9 January 2023. The Court invited “all interested parties” to present their written opinion on issues covered by the request, including but not limited to the adverse effects stemming from climate change.

Similar proceedings, concerning a request for an Advisory Opinion on the “Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change,” are ongoing before the International Court of Justice. The proceedings before the International Court of Justice were initiated pursuant to Resolution 77/276 of the United Nations General Assembly, dated 29 March 2023.

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Algeria adopts new mining law

On 3 August 2025, Algeria adopted Law No. 25‑12 of 3 August 2025 governing mining activities, which was published in the Official Journal No. 52 on 7 August 2025 (“New Mining Law”). The law repeals the previous mining regime established under Law No. 14-05 of 24 February 2014.

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ITLOS amends guidelines on the preparation and presentation of cases before the Tribunal

In September 2025, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (“ITLOS”) adopted amendments to its Guidelines concerning the Preparation and Presentation of Cases before the Tribunal (“Guidelines”).  The revised text updates the Guidelines that the Tribunal originally adopted in 1997.

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China and Russia reportedly sign Bilateral Investment Treaty

Specialized press reported that on 8 May 2025, the Russian Federation (“Russia”) and the People’s Republic of China (“China”) reportedly signed a bilateral investment treaty “on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments” (“BIT”), to update and put an end to the 2006 bilateral investment treaty previously signed by the countries (“2006 Agreement”).

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: New Draft Arbitration Law

On 24 September 2025, the National Competitive Centre (“NCC”) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) published the “Draft of Arbitration Law” (the “Draft Arbitration Law” or the “DAL”), following the Council of Ministers’ June 2025 Resolution, as part of KSA’s efforts to modernise the regulatory framework of arbitration, with the objective of “enhancing perceptions of arbitration in the Kingdom, in a manner that positively reflects on the relevant international indicators”.

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