On the day Judge Pillay receives the @nobelprize.org this blog goes to the heart of why electing the best judges for the ICC requires high moral character to be taken seriously ⤵️ Thank you @ejiltalk.bsky.social for publishing it 🙏🏻

EJIL: Talk!@ejiltalk.bsky.social · 2d ago

High Moral Character as Optional? ICC Vetting Design Flaws | by Ezequiel Jimenez Martinez

Rubio is obviously wrong. But this is the first time the ASP is mentioned as a reason. Presumably it’s inaction to “constrain” the Court. It’s a golden opportunity for the ASP to react in the strongest terms, including an emergency Bureau and ASP meeting. Rebut Rubio. Act now.

Sergey Vasiliev@sevslv.bsky.social · 3d ago

From the Thursday memo: "The ICC has acted wildly outside of its purported mandate, unchecked by fundamental principles of international law, and apparently unconstrained by the ASP, as evidenced by its increasingly activist and inappropriate approach towards heads of State."

El modelo Milei que venía a terminar con la pobreza, la incrementa en ausencia total de políticas públicas sociales. Una reflexión ⤵️ 📍 www.eltribuno.com/opiniones/20...

El vicio argentino de tapar la pobreza

Manipular la interpretación de los datos de la pobreza del Indec es tan nocivo como modificar las estadísticas. Los que sufren las consecuencias son la población y la transparencia democrática

eltribuno.com

@coalitionfortheicc.org continues to lead the way in upholding the best judicial candidates end up as ICC Judges. Notable all candidates replied to the questionnaire and all agreed in strict terms to the legally binding high moral character component of their role ⤵️

Coalition for the International Criminal Court@coalitionfortheicc.org · 4d ago

🔴 WANTED: Highly qualified candidates to become ICC Judges We invited ICC Judicial candidates for the 2026 elections to answer key questions on their background, relevant qualifications and experience. 🗳️ coalitionfortheicc.org/icc-judicial... @pga-champions.bsky.social

These statements do little to prevent further withdrawals. The ASP needs to amend its Universality Plan of Action (there since 2007) to counter the trend of exits. A dedicated effort is required now. “Dialogue” needs to translate to action. 📍 asp.icc-cpi.int/sessions/pla...

This was the only right decision for the Bureau to make. If the ICC President, the OTP Deputies and several CSOs cannot access NY due to US sanctions, nothing in the Statute prevented a move to The Hague (Art 112(6)) This should be standard practice until the US lifts sanctions.

1/2 Two months after the removal of the ICC Prosecutor and more than one month after the Bureau asked the ASP Sec for options for the necessary election, no news what comes next. In comparison, Res.6 (2004) mandates a judge election date *within* one month when a vacancy arises.

1/3 🚨The Republic of Naoero withdraws from the Rome Statute after announcing it during its #UNGA81 speech calling the ICC “irrelevant” It’s alarming the accelerating rate of withdrawals. The 6th in 2026. The last one was Philippines in 2019. 📍 treaties.un.org/doc/Publicatio…

A right and strategic move by the Court. It started in 2023/24 with the development of the “security blueprint” programme for institutional resilience. In 2025, the Court spent 8 out of €15 million on it. A necessity due to US bullying sanctions. 📍 asp.icc-cpi.int/sites/defaul...

Reuters@reuters.com · 2w ago

ICC deputy prosecutor says court insulated against US sanctions, FT reports reut.rs/4Au1sQN

Ireland ratifies all Rome Statute amendments available, including on Art 124. This makes Ireland of the few States Parties that have done so (less than 30). An example how to support the Court meaningfully. All States Parties should follow.

The Rubio campaign in action. Colombia has also withdrawn their candidate for ICC judge - Olarte Bácares (List B, woman, frm Ambassador to the Netherlands) - who was assessed as “highly qualified” by the Advisory Committee on Judges’ nominations. 📍 asp.icc-cpi.int/sites/defaul...

The Jerusalem Post@thejerusalempost.bsky.social · 3w ago

Colombia has withdrawn from South Africa's genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, the court announced. www.jpost.com/israel-news/...

Acting prosecutor? Of course it is important the OTP is led comprehensively during a time its chief is vacant. But that a Deputy becomes “acting”, is, as far as the legal framework is concerned, not envisioned. Should it? Sure, but that requires Statute and RoPE amendments.

1/2 The assault by the US on the ICC was always going to include targeting the whole institution. They went for OTP and President already. What matters is what preparation and political coordination has taken place to avert and then respond.

Sergey Vasiliev@sevslv.bsky.social · 3w ago

Court-wide sanctions are expected to be announced by the Trump administration during or shortly after this week’s UNGA session. The measure will prohibit US companies from doing any business with the ICC following a grace period of six to seven months.

Several useful points in this interview with Prof Mégret. Realising “sovereignty” as a power of the 125 (soon to be 120) States Parties to support, enable and strengthen the Court is a tangible way to counteract the US and others that want a docile or weak intl criminal system ⤵️

Frédéric Mégret, juriste : « Si la CPI ne parvient pas à rallier assez de forces, elle disparaîtra dans le chaos de l’époque »

Face à la crise inédite que traverse la Cour pénale internationale, son avenir dépend moins de l’affirmation d’un principe de justice universelle que de la volonté de nombreux Etats, qui l’ont souvera...

lemonde.fr

1/7 The ICC's Proposed Budget for 2027 is out: €195.2m, +1.0% (€1.95m) from 2026. €198.8m with no the host State loan. First budget built on the 2026–29 Strategic Plan, and the first drafted under severe US sanctions, and without a Prosecutor   📍 asp.icc-cpi.int/sites/defaul... 🧵⤵️

If you read Yuval Shany & Maria Varaki @ejiltalk.bsky.social on the removal of the ICC Prosecutor and were left with questions, @ezejim.bsky.social and I offer further reflections: Part I: opiniojuris.org/2026... Part II: opiniojuris.org/2026... Thanks @opiniojuris.bsky.social for publishing them.

Governance as Legitimacy: A Further Reflection on the Removal of the ICC Prosecutor (Part I) - Opinio Juris

[Ezequiel Jimenez Martinez is an Adjunct Professor at the Pompeu Fabra Law Faculty, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Law Research and Policy. He is the author of Governing the International Criminal Court: the History and Practice of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (Brill, 2025). Sergey Vasiliev is a Professor of International Law...

opiniojuris.org

1/2 Last time some past ASP Presidents wrote together, the Independent Expert Review process took place. Now they are rightly asking for commitment of States Parties to protect the Court. A lot of what they ask depends on leadership of the Bureau, led by the President.

Just Security@justsecurity.org · last mo.

Current and former Presidents of the International Criminal Court's Assembly of States Parties on the role of the Court in upholding the international legal order. www.justsecurity.org/156016/presi...

Starting off at @esil-sedi.bsky.social with a thought provoking keynote by Prof Mégret for the @esiligicj.bsky.social workshop. Conflict can help build a new narrative and support that enables an ICC confronting reality as it is, even if large powers want it gone.

It’s a good thing to see another book exploring, critically, what “good governance” means for States Parties to the Intl Criminal Court. Congratulations @kritikasharma.bsky.social 👏🏻 📍 brill.com/display/titl... More research and attention is *still* needed on this area 🚨

Excellent article about the demise of the Central American Court of Justice. One of the first experiments of international law, anywhere. 📍 www.ejiltalk.org/the-rise-and... What would Alejandro Alvarez make of this tragic end?

Looking forward to the @esiligicj.bsky.social workshop and annual conference next week in Malaga. Thank you Caleb Wheeler for motivating me to present a proposal and for the Group for accepting it. It will be a pleasure to share the panel with @marcolongobardo.bsky.social Say hi if around ! 👋🏻

ICC President Akane is right and is showing what a judge should be all about. The question how a judicial candidate would deal with possible US sanctions should be asked as States Parties prepare to elect 6 new judges in December. 📍 asp.icc-cpi.int/elections/ju...

That the Mladić story be a reminder what the international criminal law system can deliver, as a fugitive could hide no longer. 📍 www.irmct.org/sites/defaul...

First indication of movement by the ASP Bureau in the process to elect the 4th Prosecutor during their 20th meeting on Aug 18 - Plus some other worthy debate 📍 asp.icc-cpi.int/sites/defaul... 🧵⤵️

1/2 While I support this statement 100%, it is incomplete as it does not address any policy recommendation specifically for the ASP. The ASP is the governing body of the ICC. There is no individual State or regional action without an ASP corresponding decision.

Coalition for the International Criminal Court@coalitionfortheicc.org · 2mo ago

❗❗ +130 civil society organisations from 56 countries call on ICC States Parties to mount a collective response to halt withdrawals from the Rome Statute and counter the new US campaign against the International Criminal Court. 📌 Full statement: coalitionfortheicc.org/news/rome-st...

I spoke to @sankei.com to comment on the sanctions imposed by the US on ICC President Akane. An unprecedented move and one has angered several Japanese commentators. Now is the time for Japan to take the lead in protecting the ICC 📍 www.sankei.com/article/2026...

「日本なくしてICCなし、守るため主導権発揮を」　国際法学者、ヒメネスマルティネス氏

日本なしに国際刑事裁判所（ICC）は存在しえなかった。最大の資金拠出国というだけではない。ICC設立を決めた1998年のローマ規程起草で大きな役割を果たし、裁…

sankei.com

VERY unfortunate! Dear Japan, this is your Judge. If you do not stand up for her, who will? #ICC #USsanctions #Trump #Rubio #Japan

It doesn’t have to meet in NY at all. If the reason is to assure all State Party delegations are in attendance for the election of 6 new judges, the ICC Trust Fund to assist travel of diplomats is available and has been used in the past. Leaving the US will send the right signal.

Mark Kersten@markkersten.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The #ICC's Assembly of States Parties absolutely cannot meet at the United Nations this December for the ASP's annual meetings. ICC advocates must be safe. America cannot be rewarded for its belligerence and aggression. Keep the ASP in The Hague.

Thank you Mark for the kind shout out I agree. Not necessarily dramatic, but the context for the 4th ICC Prosecutorial election is markedly different from the last three, which where also *difficult* for the ASP ⤵️ 📍 brill.com/display/book/9… All eyes on the detailed process 👀

Mark Kersten@markkersten.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Who might fill the void at the ICC? What qualities should they possess & what criteria should matter in deciding who takes up what might be the toughest job in the international law world? The Next ICC Prosecutor: Someone who has never wanted the job? justiceinconflict.org/2026/08/18/t...

First ever ICC President under sanction, this time from a supposedly close ally of Japan, the top contributor to the Court. At this stage, whatever the ASP President and, still, 125 parties do next, will mark how serious States are in protecting the Court. Time to act.

CNN@cnn.com · 2mo ago

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio targeted two International Criminal Court officials with new sanctions Tuesday amid his campaign to “dismantle” the court. https://cnn.it/3Sn015c