Facing Threats, Attacks, Coercive Measures, International Criminal Court Remains Key to Advancing Accountability, Delivering Justice, Speakers Tell General Assembly
The past year has been overshadowed by threats, attacks, and coercive measures against the International Criminal Court and its officials, delegates warned the General Assembly, while underscoring the body’s vital role in advancing accountability and delivering justice for victims of atrocities.
Presenting the International Criminal Court’s 2025 report (document A/80/342), Tomoko Akane, the body’s President, said that, as of 1 January 2025, for the first time since its establishment, the Court’s membership has expanded to 125 States parties. While a major milestone, the Court will continue efforts towards universal ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute.
However, she stressed, attacks against the Court and its officials have persisted, posing a serious threat to the administration of justice and the global fight against impunity. Such acts included sanctions and arrest warrants against judges and the leadership of the Prosecution, as well as cyberattacks on the Court itself.
Turning to the Court’s prosecutorial and judicial activities, she said that, during the during the 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025 reporting period, the Court maintained a high workload, issuing 382 written decisions.
In Darfur, Sudan, the first case stemming from Security Council resolution 1593 (2005) concluded with the conviction of former Janjaweed commander Abd-Al-Rahman on 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes between August 2003 and April 2004. He awaits sentencing, and 1,591 victims were authorized to participate in the trial.
In Libya, the Pre-Trial Chamber issued several arrest warrants. On 16 July 2025, Mr. El Hishri was arrested for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, and rape — the first confirmation proceedings expected from this situation. In Afghanistan, warrants were issued for Taliban leaders Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani for crimes against humanity based on gender and political persecution.
In the State of Palestine, arrest warrants were issued against the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the then Minister of Defence, Yoav Gallant, for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. In the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte was surrendered to the Court on 12 March 2025; confirmation proceedings for crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder are ongoing.
Underscoring the importance of cooperation — a legal obligation under Part 9 of the Statute — she said that, as of the end of the reporting period, 33 publicly known arrest warrants remained unexecuted.
Victims of mass atrocities remain at the heart of the Court’s work, she said, noting that “it gives them a voice, a space to share their stories, and the hope that truth will be recognized and responsibility upheld”. Reparations — an essential part of the Court’s proceedings — embody the principle of restorative justice enshrined in the Rome Statute. In this regard, the Trust Fund for Victims is a vital pillar of the Court’s legitimacy, which, in 2024 alone, delivered tangible reparative justice to thousands of victims.
Justice: Universal Duty, Not Mere Expression of National Interest
“Justice is a universal duty, a universal responsibility, not merely an expression of national interest,” echoed Annalena Baerbock, the President of the General Assembly.
While this year the Court has issued or unsealed arrest warrants relating to the situations in Afghanistan, Libya, the Philippines, Ukraine and Palestine, interference against the Court itself has increased. “These are not isolated incidents but deliberate attacks against the Court which aim to weaken the rule of law and erode faith in international institutions,” she stressed. Warning against indifference, she urged States to stand by the institution “the world still urgently needs”.
“The Rome Statute turned aspiration into an institution,” while the Court has established itself as “an indispensable pillar of the global fight against impunity”, said the representative of the Netherlands, introducing draft resolution A/80/L.9, which welcomes the Court’s report.
Outrage Over Sanctioning of Court Officials, People Cooperating with Court
In the ensuing discussion, many delegates deplored recent measures sanctioning Court officials, staff, and those cooperating with the Court, and urged all States to refrain from any action contrary to the Rome Statute.
Among them was Mexico’s delegate, who, speaking for a Cross-Regional Group of State, warned that “such measures erode the international rule of law, constitute an unacceptable interference with judicial independence, undermine ongoing investigations, and threaten the global fight against impunity”. Sanctions against the Court “violate both the letter and spirit of the Rome Statute and consequently place victims, witnesses, and court officials, many of whom are our nationals, at risk,” she said.
“Victims of atrocity crimes should not be punished for seeking the justice they deserve […] and that we owe to them,” stressed the Observer for the State of Palestine. Sanctioning Court officials over their findings on Gaza only sends the message that Palestinian children do not deserve to be saved, but only orphaned, amputated and abused. While the Court “did its part” to hold perpetrators of Israel’s crimes against Palestinians accountable, they remain at large. The perpetrators cannot be absolved of designing the worst starvation campaign in modern history, killing and maiming over 200,000 people and slaughtering children at a rate of one an hour — or the size of a classroom each day, for 732 days, she asserted, asking: “Where can we go but the ICC?”
Opting Out of Rome Statute Denies Atrocity Crime Victims Access to Justice
“African States parties attach great importance to the work of the ICC, as an independent and impartial judicial institution,” stressed Sierra Leone’s delegate, on behalf of African States Parties to the Rome Statute. Urging “our sister nations that are considering leaving the Rome Statute to reconsider their decisions”, he underscored that “opting out of the Rome Statute system leaves a vast number of victims of atrocity crimes without access to justice, especially where national jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute.”
Picking up that thread, Slovakia’s delegate, who also spoke for Austria and Czech Republic, expressed regret over Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute, as well as the recent announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their intent to do the same. “Universal participation in the Rome Statute system would correspond to the universal reach of its prosecutorial and judicial activities,” she stated, underscoring the indispensable role of States in providing the necessary assistance to the Court in the execution of 33 outstanding arrest warrants.
Focus on Ukraine
Estonia’s delegate, also speaking for Latvia and Lithuania, observed that, “by ratifying the Rome Statute, Ukraine made a crucial step towards bringing the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity to justice”. The main culprits of the war of aggression against Ukraine must be held accountable, he said, welcoming the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression in the framework of the Council of Europe.
Commending the Court’s vital role in addressing crimes committed during the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression, Ukraine’s delegate cited the “systematic torture and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians” as “part of a deliberate and coordinated policy”. Emphasizing that “impunity for such crimes cannot be tolerated under the Rome Statute”, she said it is “crucial” to preserve the capacity of the Court’s field office in Kyiv. “Justice must not lag behind aggression”, she stressed, urging all States “to reaffirm that even in war, humanity must not be lost”.
For his part, Myanmar’s representative expressed frustration over the lack of progress following the Prosecutor’s “application for an arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing”. Urging “timely and effective action from the Court”, he warned that “every minute, the military junta takes civilian lives”.
Protecting, Delivering Justice for Victims
The representative of South Africa commended the Court’s work for victims — over 3,800 victims have received or enrolled in reparations programmes, and nearly 19,500 people, mostly women, have benefited from assistance programmes. “Accountability is not just about punishing perpetrators but about restoring dignity to survivors,” she asserted.
Adding to that, Spain’s delegate underscored that “accountability is critical if impunity is to be effectively addressed” and commended the Court’s “unprecedented activity” despite growing pressure and sanctions. She highlighted new arrest warrants in Afghanistan, Palestine and Ukraine, as well as progress in victim reparations.
Colombia’s representative recalled that last October the Special Jurisdiction for Peace issued its first rulings on cases of “hostage-taking by the FARC-EP and forced disappearances”, marking “a real landmark in the peace process”. These rulings aim to “protect victims’ rights, ensure legal certainty, and meet international human rights standards”, while promoting “social reintegration and benefits for affected communities”.
“The ICC is a victims’ Court,” concurred Iceland’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. She noted that in 2024, approximately 19,500 individuals, 69 per cent of whom were women, benefited directly from the assistance programmes administered by the Trust Fund for Victims — a programme Nordic countries will continue to contribute to. Voicing grave concern about the increased pressure faced by the Court, she reiterated Nordic countries’ commitment to preserve the Court’s integrity from any attacks, treats or pressure.
Calls to Reject Politicization of Court
However, some delegates warned against the Court’s politicization and weakening of its credibility. Among them was Venezuela’s representative, who denounced politically motivated interference by the United States and other foreign Powers in the Court’s work, asserting that such actions aim “to manipulate international criminal justice to advance political agendas”.
The United States’ speaker affirmed that President Donald Trump’s 6 February 2025 executive order unequivocally opposes any Court actions against his country or any ally “that has not consented to its jurisdiction”. The Court’s ongoing actions against the United States and Israel “set a dangerous precedent and threaten to infringe on the principle of State sovereignty”, he said. Its prosecutor and judges “wield enormous power that has proven to be unchecked as any safeguards provided in the Rome Statute have failed or been ignored”, he said, stressing “the United States will no longer stand by and let this happen”.
Israel’s representative rejected the imposition of “biased, prejudiced and politically motivated” agendas, noting that Israel has seen a distorted application of the law, as well as attempts to apply the Court’s jurisdiction where there is none. “Such failings have left the Court mired in dispute and doubt,” he said, stressing that “[it] must undergo significant and far-reaching reform” if it is to remain viable.
Urging the body to reject politicization, double standards and selectivity, Iran’s delegate stressed that Israel’s genocidal acts in Palestine must be properly investigated and prosecuted at the international level. He also condemned Israel’s unprovoked aggression against his country.
Complete Live Blog coverage of today's meeting can be found here.
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* The 28th-33rd Meetings were covered in Press Releases SOC/4924, SOC/4926 and SOC/4928.