International Criminal Court: Organisation of retreats for officials by the Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties

22-03-2022

Grace ATALUI MOKANGO

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

As an international organisation created by treaty, the International Criminal Court benefits, in addition to its judicial organs, from the presence of an Assembly of States Parties ( ASP), which is the political, legislative, and management oversight body. The Assembly of States Parties is composed of each representative of each State Party that has ratified the Rome Statute. The ASP meets annually for sessions and makes decisions that may include elections of Court officials, amendments to the Court's regulations, the Court's budget, cooperation of States with the Court, and other relevant topics.  

Consequently, in a statement of 21 March 2022, the Assembly of States Parties indicated that the President of the Assembly, H.E. Ms. Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi (Argentina), and the two Vice-Presidents of the Assembly, H.E. Mr. Robert Keith Rae (Canada) and H.E. Ms. Kateřina Sequensová (Czech Republic), held two retreats with the three heads of organ and the Presidency of the Court on 18 and 19 March 2022, respectively, in Voorschoten (Netherlands). The purpose of these retreats was to better understand the work of the Court and the Assembly and to exchange views and thoughts on how to strengthen the Rome Statute system at this crucial time.

The meeting discussed the priorities of the Court and the Assembly for 2022, internal and external issues of common interest, shared expectations, and the work of the Presidency of the Court and its interaction with the judicial branch. These retreats have further strengthened the collaboration between the Court and the Assembly.

Source and further reading

International Criminal Court, Presidency of the Assembly holds retreats with the Court officials, Assembly of States Parties, ( 21 March 2022), from: https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=pr1647