This week, from 1–6 December, the 24th Assembly of States Parties to the International
Criminal Court (ICC) is taking place in The Hague, with the Estonian delegation led by Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs Kerli Veski.
On the opening day of the Assembly, Undersecretary Veski reaffirmed Estonia’s unwavering support for the ICC’s work in combating impunity. “Estonia continues to support the swift launch of the special tribunal on the crime of aggression to be established under the Council of Europe, aimed at preventing Russia’s attempts to evade international law,” she emphasised. The tribunal’s purpose is to investigate and prosecute those responsible for committing the crime of aggression. It would complement the ICC’s work, which focuses on investigating crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Ukraine.
Undersecretary Veski also called on States Parties to deepen cooperation with the Court to ensure the enforcement of arrest warrants. “We must also continue to stand up for the protection of victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which is why it is important to keep contributing to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims,” she added.
In the second half of the Assembly, Chair of the Board of Directors of the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, Andres Parmas, presented an overview of the Fund’s activities, underlining the need for greater financial contributions from states. The leadership of the Court and the Office of the Prosecutor also delivered their activity reports, urging states to fully support the Court and to oppose sanctions and other restrictions imposed on judges and officials.
On the margins of the Assembly, Deputy Secretary General Kerli Veski met with ICC President Tomoko Akane and Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler to discuss how States Parties to the Rome Statute can better support the Court in its current challenging circumstances. Estonia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Paul Teesalu, chaired the Court’s budget oversight working group, which developed rules for the participation of states with budget arrears in decision‑making. Estonia also supported several side events at the Assembly, focusing on the ICC’s work in investigating crimes committed in cyberspace and on victim protection. The Estonian delegation also took part in a meeting addressing the crime of aggression.
Additional information
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