Centring Survivors in Global Justice: Reflections from This Year’s ICC Assembly of State Parties
Attending the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Assembly of State Parties (ASP) is an incredible privilege afforded to just a sliver of those around the world who care about justice, demand justice, and deserve justice. Synergy for Justice is a proud member of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), which affords us the opportunity to participate in the ASP and elevate the voices of those who cannot be present. The CICC is a global partnership of hundreds of civil society organisations (CSOs) fighting together for justice and accountability for crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, and aggression.
The ASP, composed of 125 state parties to the Rome Statute, is the oversight and legislative body of the ICC. The ASP meets annually in The Hague or New York City for a week to discuss important issues related to functioning of the ICC, including cooperation, complementarity, budget, efficiency, and threats to the Court. The ASP is not meant to discuss or interfere in any way with the substantive judicial matters related to the Court.
Members of civil society attending the ASP are allowed to observe most of the plenary sessions, and many have the opportunity to make statements before the ASP members about issues of grave concern. It’s also a chance to meet with some Court officials, ask questions, and learn how we can build better bridges from the ICC to communities affected by violence and international crimes. Additionally, and perhaps of greatest interest to many CSOs, are the side events on various topics that are held on the margins of the plenary sessions. This year, Synergy co-hosted four side events with colleague CSOs on topics ranging from survivor-centred justice, the crime of aggression, children affected by conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and the full spectrum of CRSV occurring in Ukraine. The noticeable highlight of this year, and a welcome departure from the overly technocratic panels of previous years, was the robust inclusion of victims and survivors as experts in many of the side events. They were able to ground discussions in different country contexts by speaking credibly about the impacts on those who suffer most from injustice and impunity.
All of the events that Synergy co-hosted included in-person participation of survivors directly impacted by the topics discussed. Their voices revealed the suffering and challenges faced by victims and survivors of violence, but they also illuminated the strength and determination of people who have endured international crimes and now rightfully demand justice. Four members of Synergy’s Roster of Survivor Experts shared their wisdom and insights, providing personal and compelling views of complex situations, and they highlighted the urgency of justice, accountability, reparations, and inclusion in Court proceedings. We hope and expect that the inclusion of survivors’ voices will be the de facto path forward for all organisations holding justice events in the future, both at the ASP and elsewhere. Concrete outcomes from their participation included invitations to them from several ICC court functions, including the Office of the Prosecutor, where they were able to provide suggestions for enhancing victim participation in Court proceedings. In addition to calling for the creation of a Survivor Advisory Board for the ICC, Synergy Survivor Experts were also invited to participate in meetings to inform the ongoing development of a new Crimes Against Humanity Treaty, which is in process at the United Nations.
Although the threat of US sanctions on the Court, and the existence of sanctions on many of our Palestinian colleagues, as well as on several Court officials, cast a dark shadow, we remain steadfast in our commitments to advance justice, end impunity for human rights violations, and ensure that survivors can access the services and opportunities they need to heal and fully participate in society.
