Support civil society in fight for global justice

During the reporting period, the Coalition Secretariat has kept member organizations informed about ICC developments through a wide dissemination of relevant updates; coordinated opportunities for joint advocacy; ensured adequate interpretation and translation; maintained civil society access to ICC and Assembly of States Parties (ASP) structures; amplified and represented civil society voices in important discussion and processes at the ICC; created consultation opportunities between NGOs and various relevant stakeholders; and supported members in strategizing and developing advocacy. These include:

- A CICC organized roundtable meeting from 1 to 3 June 2022, during which ICC President, ICC Registrar and ICC Prosecutor briefed CICC members on the work of their respective offices. Topics discussed included the ICC’s budget, cooperation, outreach, victims’ issues, defence matters, updates on ongoing situations, and cross-cutting issues including the development of a gender equality strategy, the IER recommendations, and the development of OTP guidelines on documentation of crimes.

- The expansion of the conflict in Ukraine put an unprecedented spotlight on the need for accountability for grave crimes, creating new opportunities for the CICC and its members to advance their fight against impunity in all regions of the world. At the same time, none of the accountability initiatives discussed at the international and national level in relation to Ukraine, has a focus on supporting Ukrainian civil society organizations, who have been at the forefront of the fight against impunity for more than a decade. The Coalition Secretariat has sought to fill this gap by supporting its 12 active Ukrainian member organizations in successfully navigating the new complex accountability landscape.

- In advance of the high-level Ukraine Accountability Conference hosted by the Government of the Netherlands, together with the ICC OTP and the European Commission on 14 July 2022, the CICC Secretariat helped coordinate a roundtable discussion for (Ukrainian) civil society, with the attendance of the Dutch Foreign Minister and the ICC Prosecutor. The CICC was also instrumental in ensuring a speaking slot for Ukrainian NGOs during the Ukraine Accountability Conference itself.

- The Coalition Secretariat has facilitated the members' engagament with the ICC Committee on Budget and Finance and the Working Party on Public International Law (COJUR) of the Council of the European Union.