On 26 June 2018, the German Parliament (Bundestag) adopted the resolution “Strengthening the International Criminal Court” (ICC), which aimed, inter alia, at examining the factors that lead to the long length of proceedings before the Court. In addition, the resolution requested the Federal Government of Germany to formulate proposals that may accelerate the proceedings of the cases under the jurisdiction of the ICC. 

Based on this resolution, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy (Nuremberg Academy) conducted a joint research project with the International Criminal Law Research Unit of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (ICLU)to analyse the length of the proceedings before the ICC. As part of the collaborative project, both institutions developed an analytical framework and assessment process which resulted in the submission of a detailed report with findings and recommendations to the Federal Government of Germany in 2022. The report was presented at the twenty-first session of the ICC Assembly of States Parties, The Hague, in December 2022 and at the German Parliament, Berlin, in October 2023, respectively. The report is freely accessible and available online on the site of the Nuremberg Academy. 

In March 2024, the Nuremberg Academy hosted a workshop in The Hague with the intention to exchange perspectives with experts on possible amendments that may speed up proceedings at the ICC. The workshop centred its discussions on two topics that prolong the Court’s work: disclosure of evidence and the document containing charges (DCC). It is in the context of the latter that the Nuremberg Academy is currently undertaking a study on the reasons for the delays behind the DCC, including recommendations and solutions thereof. (pg)