ICC & ICL Programme Archived News and Events

News releases

Closing soon, registration for the 2024 IBA ICC Moot Court Competition

The annual International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition is open for registrations for the 2024 edition, taking place from 31 May – 7 June 2024 in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Released on Nov 14, 2023

New IBA report reviews mechanisms to prevent and remedy injustice before international criminal courts and tribunals

The International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law (ICC & ICL) Programme has published a new report examining the legal frameworks and practices of international criminal courts and tribunals to remedy international injustice through appeals, retrials, reviews or...

Released on Dec 08, 2022

IBA urges states to increase support and re-sources for the International Criminal Court

The International Bar Association (IBA) urges states to increase support and resources for the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the commencement of the 21st annual session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) – the Court's management oversight and legislative body composed of representatives of the states...

Released on Dec 05, 2022

2022 IBA ICC Moot Court Competition won by The Honourable Society of King’s Inns

The Honourable Society of King’s Inns (Ireland) has been named winner of the 2022 International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition.

Released on Jun 02, 2022

ASP President says this is a time to redouble efforts to demonstrate worth of the ICC to fight impunity

Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the ICC Assembly of States Parties, spoke of the need for the ICC to ‘demonstrate its worth’ during a keynote address on Sunday 8 May 2022 at the online opening ceremony of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition

Released on May 12, 2022

IBA publishes guide for strengthening International Criminal Court and Rome Statute

IBA publishes guide for strengthening International Criminal Court and Rome Statute

Released on Oct 12, 2021

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda inspires next generation of criminal lawyers at start of IBA ICC Moot Court

At the opening ceremony of the 2021 International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court competition on Sunday 6 June, the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda gave an inspirational speech to the more than 270 students and legal experts gathered online from around the world.

Released on Jun 09, 2021

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to open virtual annual IBA ICC Moot Court Competition

The International Criminal Court (ICC/the Court) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is to give the keynote address at the start of the annual IBA ICC Moot Court Competition on 6 June 2021.

Released on Jun 04, 2021

IBA welcomes removal of sanctions on ICC Prosecutor and senior official

The International Bar Association (IBA) welcomes the repeal of the sanctions placed by United States former president Donald Trump on International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and Phakiso Mochochoko, the Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division of the Office of the Prosecutor.

Released on Apr 07, 2021

IBA elevates partnership with Grotius Centre to stage annual moot court competition

In the context of the rule of law under threat in many jurisdictions, the International Bar Association (IBA) has announced a fortified partnership with the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden Law School to annually stage the largest moot competition focussed on international criminal law: the final round of which usually takes place at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Released on Mar 18, 2021

IBA welcomes election of new ICC officials

The International Bar Association (IBA) welcomes the election of Karim Khan QC as the next Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and six judges, as well as the new president, vice presidents and members of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) – the Court's management oversight and legislative body, composed of...

Released on Feb 22, 2021

Lord’s Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen convicted at the International Criminal Court

At the end of a complicated trial that had seen several ‘firsts’, on 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court (ICC) handed down a guilty verdict for Dominic Ongwen, former child soldier and commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. In a 1077-page judgment, Mr Ongwen was convicted on 61...

Released on Feb 04, 2021

IBA calls on states to push back against US sanctions on ICC Prosecutor and official

On Wednesday 2 September, United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced that International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and the Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division (JCCD) Phakiso Mochochoko have been designated by the US State Department for economic sanctions. The International Bar Association (IBA) condemns this latest action by the Trump Administration to harass senior officials….

Released on Sep 03, 2020

A new report highlights the need for state cooperation with international courts

New report from the ICC & ICL Programme calls for greater attention to be paid to the human rights of persons convicted by international courts.

Released on Jun 29, 2020

IBA 2020 ICC Moot Court Memorial Award winners celebrated in virtual event

For the 2020 edition of the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition (ICC Moot Court), more than 170 students representing 49 countries gathered virtually to celebrate the winners of the best memorials – lengthy written briefs prepared by each team for prosecution, defence and government roles – submitted in this year’s competition. On Thursday 11 June, the IBA Best Memorial Award, irrespective of role, went to Temple University of the United States.

Released on Jun 16, 2020

IBA condemns US President’s Executive Order authorising sanctions against International Criminal Court personnel

The International Bar Association (IBA) unequivocally condemns United States President Donald Trump’s issuance of an Executive Order authorising the US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, to block financial assets within the US jurisdiction of International Criminal Court’s (ICC) personnel, and suspend ICC staff, or any persons found to be cooperating with the institution, entry into the country.

Released on Jun 12, 2020

ICC Independent Expert Review group called on to strengthen fair trials and equality of arms

The International Bar Association’s International Criminal Court & International Criminal Law Programme (IBA ICC & ICL Programme) has submitted extensive recommendations to the Group of Independent Experts regarding urgent fair trial concerns at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The submissions draw on the IBA ICC & ICL Programme’s monitoring of fairness and equality of arms at the ICC since 2005.

Released on Apr 16, 2020

News releases archive cont.

2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

                               Events and Campaigns

2019 | Seeing Justice Through: longterm issues in international justice​​​​​​​

An IBA ICC & ICL Programme Experts’ Roundtable Discussion addressing theory, practice, and future perspectives. This event, held on 21 October 2019, was supported by the IBA War Crimes Committee.

Download event brochure Watch keynote address Watch Panel 1 Discussion Watch Panel 2 Discussion​​​​​​​

2017 | Expert's Roundtable on Fair Trials and Complementarity

On 6 July 2017, the International Bar Association (IBA) Hague Office organised ‘Fair Trials and Complementarity: An Experts’ Roundtable Discussion addressing Practice, Challenges and Future Perspectives’. The event was attended by 100 delegates including judges, senior officials and staff of international criminal courts and tribunals, diplomats, civil society, and academics.

Download event report here

2016 | Experts' Roundtable on Trials in Absentia in international criminal justice

On 8 June 2016, the International Bar Association International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law Programme convened an ‘Experts’ Roundtable on trials in absentia in international criminal justice’ at The Hague Institute for Global Justice.

Download event report here

2013 | Roundtable discussion - Witnesses under Threat?

On 15 July 2013, the IBA ICC Programme hosted Witnesses under threat? a roundtable discussion on the ICC’s efforts and challenges in managing and protecting witnesses. The event, held at The Hague Institute for Global Justice, marked the launch of the Programme’s latest report, ‘Witnesses before the International Criminal Court’, which encourages reflection on the Court’s reliance on witnesses, assesses its challenges and accomplishments in supporting, protecting and managing witnesses, and provides recommendations for the way forward.

2012 | Roundtable discussion - Raising the Bar: Assessing the relationship between lawyers and the ICC after ten years

On 20 November 2012, the IBA ICC Programme held a panel discussion to launch its report Counsel Matters at the ICC: The role of lawyers in establishing international criminal courts and safeguarding their legacy, during the 1th Assembly of States Parties (ASP) Meeting, in The Hague.

2010 | Roundtable discussion - Great Expectations: exploring individual and mutual responsibilities of states and the ICC

The IBA hosted an experts’ roundtable discussion entitled ‘Great Expectations: exploring individual and mutual responsibilities of states and the International Criminal Court’ on 30 November 2010, at the Peace Palace, The Hague. The panel – comprising ICC Second Vice-President Hans-Peter Kaul, Ambassador of Ireland and ASP Facilitator on Cooperation Mary Whelan, University of Amsterdam Professor Göran Sluiter and ICC International Cooperation Adviser from the Office of the Prosecutor Olivia Swaak-Goldman.

2010 | Calling African Female Lawyers - IBA ICC Campaign

On 12 May 2010, the IBA and the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched a campaign to encourage qualified African women lawyers to apply for admission to the ICC List of Counsel and Lists of Assistants to Counsel. The campaign was launched during a press conference held at the ICC in The Hague.

2010 | Reflections on the 2010 Review Conference: legacy, impact and sustainability of the Rome Statute System

On 19 January 2010 the IBA ICC Programme organised a roundtable discussion on ‘Reflections on the 2010 Review Conference: legacy, impact, and sustainability of the Rome Statute System’. The event featured: Judge Philippe Kirsch, Ambassador Jorge Lomonaco, Ambassador Stephen Rapp and Professor William Schabas. Prior to the Roundtable Discussion, The IBA was able to secure exclusive interviews with the US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes, Stephen Rapp and the former ICC President.

2008 | Roundtable discussion - Making the ICC a global reality through cooperation: perspectives, challenges and strategies

On 12 November 2008, the IBA Roundtable Discussion on ‘Making the ICC a global reality through cooperation: perspectives, challenges and strategies’. The event featured a high-profile panel of experts including the ICC Registrar; the Head of the Jurisdiction, Cooperation and Complementarity Section of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor; the Director of the International Justice Program for Human Rights Watch; and the Focal Point for Cooperation appointed by the Assembly of States Parties. A keynote address was delivered by Judge Theodor Meron, President of the Appeals Chamber for the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The discussion was moderated by Heikelina Verrijn Stuart and attended by a diverse audience of more than one hundred people. Held under Chatham House rules, the discussion focused on the duty of cooperation imposed by the Rome Statute, the need to enact ICC implementing legislation, best practices and lessons learned on cooperation and technical assistance between States Parties. In addition, timing of enforcement of court’s decision and arrest warrants were said to be the main challenges, together with effective judicial cooperation and standardised cooperation procedures.

2007 | Roundtable discussion - Right to Defence & Equality of Arms before the International Criminal Court

The IBA roundtable discussion of November 2007 represented the first opportunity issues on the role of the defence and defence counsel before the ICC were publicly discussed.

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