The ASP General Debate provides an opportunity for participants in the 22nd session of the Assembly of States Parties to address issues related to their work and the wider Rome Statute system of international justice.  

States Parties to the ICC Rome Statute, non-States Parties, observer states and organizations, as well as civil society can express their support for the Court, comment on the impact of the Rome Statute system, priorities for the ASP session, as well as identify those areas in which the ICC can continue to strengthen its work and impact.  

The ASP22 General Debate continued on day four of the Assembly. The following 46 ICC States Parties took the floor: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, El Salvador, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Latvia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, The Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uganda, and Urugay. 

ICC States Parties touched on a number of key topics during the two days of the General Debate, including the importance of the implementation of recommendations by the Independent Expert Review Mechanism, enhanced cooperation and political support to the Court, as well as addressing the ICC’s budgetary and resource needs. 

Several ICC States Parties recalled the crucial role that civil society and human rights defenders play in the pursuit of the Court's mandate, and the need to protect them from threats, intimidation and reprisals. States further condemned the recent attacks and threats against the Court and its officials (in reference to, among others, the arrest warrants and the cyberattack), aimed at undermining the Court’s work and independence.  The majority of States welcomed the ICC judges elected earlier in the week and underscored the necessity of electing only the most highly qualified officials in merit-based processes.  

Many States referenced the continued goal of reaching universal ratification of the ICC Statute and invited all non-State Parties to accede to it. In this context, many States welcomed the ratification of the ICC Rome Statute by Armenia, set to become the 124th ICC State Party on 1 February 2024.  

Finally, several States emphasized the need to place victims at the center of the Court’s work. 

A number of States also recalled the important work of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV), with a few states taking the opportunity to announce their voluntary contributions to the TFV.  

After interventions by States Parties to the Rome Statute, several observer states, including Armenia China, Iran, Israel, and the United States, followed by an international organisation, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and the International Criminal Court Bar Association, before turning to civil society.  

The following civil society organizations took the floor: 

• Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organisation (AHRDO), Afghanistan Transitional Justice Coordination Group (TJCW), and International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)  

• Al Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Defense for Children-Palestine and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)   

• Asia Justice Coalition   

• Burundi National Coalition for the ICC  

• Coalition for the ICC 

• Human Rights Watch 

• Justicia y Verdad    

• Libyan Crimes Watch and a coalition of Libyan civil society organisations   

• Philippines Coalition for the ICC (PCICC), Amnesty International Philippines and Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center (CLRDC) 

• Ukraine 5am Coalition and the global initiative Tribunal 4 Putin 

Written statements submitted to the ASP22 will be made available here.  

Statements delivered at the Assembly are available here. A summary of the day 3 of ASP22 (Wednesday 6 December) is available on the CICC website.

For everything you need to know about ASP22:   

• Our webpage on the Assembly of States Parties 2023 with all #ASP22 daily summaries, recommendations from civil society and other ASP22 resources.     

• Calendar with all the side events taking place in the margins of ASP22.  

• Follow all the action on our Twitter account: @ngos4justice