#NGOVoices address ICC States Parties during the 23rd session of the ICC Assembly of States Parties #ASP23
ASP23 General Debate
The following organisations delivered statements in person during the ASP23 General Debate, which was held on 3 December 2024:
- Addameer, Al-Haq, Al-Haq Europe, Al Mezan, Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
- Afghanistan Organization for Development of Human Rights (AODHR), Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization (AHRDO), the Coalition for the Prevention of Hazara Genocide and the Transitional Justice Coordination Group (TJCG)
- Atrocities Watch Africa
- Center for Truth and Justice
- Coalition for the ICC
- Defender Centre, Ensaf organization, International Commission of Jurists, Lawyers for Justice in Libya, Libya Crimes Watch and Sawt for Human Rights (available in English and Arabic)
- Ligue pour la Paix, les Droits de l'Homme et la Justice (available in French)
- Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC), alongside its members Amnesty International Philippines, CenterLaw and Network Against Killings in the Philippines (NAKPhil)
- Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association "JurFem"
- Venezuelan Informal Network (available in Spanish)
REVIEW PLENARY (4 December 2024)
The Coalition for the ICC and its members participated in the plenary panel on the Review of the ICC and Rome Statute system which took place on Wednesday 4 December 2024. Representatives of the CICC Review Team, Human Rights Watch and the Peace and Justice Initiative also took the floor during the discussion.
Find here the statements :
COOPERATION PLENARY (5 December 2024)
#NGOVoices took the floor during the ASP23 Cooperation plenary, which took place on Thursday 5 December 2024.
During the first segment of the plenary, "Cooperation is vital for the court", the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG) took the floor on behalf of the Coalition for the ICC.
During the plenary's second segment, the Coalition for the ICC participated in a panel discussion entitled “How can States Parties strengthen their support for the Court?” . The Coalition highlighted the indispensable role of state political support and cooperation in ensuring justice for victims and the effective functioning of the Court, in all situations. Below, we share the full text of this intervention, emphasising the critical obligations of States Parties under the Rome Statute and the collective responsibility to defend the Court and the Rome Statute from any attack or sanction.
ASP23 CLOSING SESSION
The Coalition for the ICC delivered its statement at the ASP23 closing session on 6 December 2024, represented by Al-Haq as a new member of the Coalition’s Steering Committee. The statement underscored civil society’s unwavering commitment to international justice and the fight against impunity, highlighting the critical moment faced by the ICC and the Rome Statute system amid growing global challenges. Emphasising the importance of meaningfully engaging with victims and ensuring their voices are heard, it expressed serious concern over the inadequate budget approved by state parties, which falls short of meeting the Court's expanding workload. The Coalition called on state parties to actively defend the ICC against sanctions and other efforts to undermine its work, reaffirming their obligations under the Rome Statute, particularly regarding cooperation and arrests. Finally, the Coalition stressed the need for solidarity among states and civil society to protect the Court, its staff, and human rights defenders, and to uphold the principles of the Rome Statute at a time when they are needed most.
