Reflections on Strengthening International Criminal Justice in a Divided World
During the 24th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy — hosted by Germany — convened a well-attended side event titled “80 Years After Nuremberg – Quo Vadis, ICC? The Future of International Criminal Justice in a Divided World.” The room was filled to capacity, reflecting the enduring relevance of the Nuremberg legacy and the global commitment to accountability.
Professor Dr Christoph Safferling, Director of the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, moderated the discussion and guided an engaging exchange between high-level panelists representing diplomacy, international justice institutions, civil society and academia.
Key Reflections from the Panel
- H.E. Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations and former ASP President, reflected on the progress made since the Kampala Review Conference and highlighted the importance of expanding the jurisdiction under the Kampala Amendments. Strengthening the legal framework, he argued, is essential to ensuring that the Nuremberg principles remain effective in today’s geopolitical landscape.
- Dr Sandrine Barbier, Deputy Director for Legal Affairs at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, underlined the centrality of robust state cooperation. She emphasised that the ICC can fulfil its mandate only if States Parties strengthen their political and operational support for the Court.
- Professor Dr Bertram Schmitt, former Judge at the International Criminal Court, discussed the growing challenges related to sanctions and political pressures on the Court. He stressed that for the ICC to remain effective, judicial independence must be protected at all times, echoing Nuremberg’s foundational principle that no one is above the law.
- Eleni Chaitidou, Senior Legal Officer in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, provided insights into regional experiences in international justice. She highlighted how institutions across different regions build upon each other’s lessons — demonstrating that cooperation, shared practice and mutual learning are indispensable for strengthening accountability mechanisms.
- Matt Cannock, Amnesty International, conveyed the expectations of civil society and the broader international community. He noted that executing arrest warrants should not be viewed as an excessively high expectation, stressing that meaningful cooperation is a basic requirement for ensuring justice for victims.
Across all interventions, speakers drew explicit connections to the enduring legacy of the Nuremberg Trials, reaffirming the universal message that law must prevail over violence, aggression and impunity. Eighty years after Nuremberg, the discussion highlighted how the ICC — despite geopolitical divides — can remain a unifying force when States Parties, institutions and civil society work together to uphold accountability.
The side event was a strong contribution by the International Nuremberg Principles Academy to this year’s ASP. Over the course of four days in The Hague, the Academy’s Director, Professor Dr Christoph Safferling, and Senior Officer Dr Gurgen Petrossian held a series of bilateral meetings with partners and key ICC counterparts, including representatives of the Registry, the Office of the Prosecutor and other institutions, further deepening cooperation and setting the groundwork for joint initiatives in the year ahead. (gp)
