Advocacy Network for Justice and Peace (ANJP) is committed to advancing
international justice by calling for the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to
harmonize and expand the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction over the
crime of aggression.
At a special ASP session held in New York from July 7–9, 2025, ANJP joined other
members of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court and civil society
organizations to review proposed amendments on the crime of aggression. The
session marked a significant step toward including the crime of aggression—
alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in the ICC’s
prosecutorial mandate. Currently, ICC jurisdiction over aggression is limited and
often hindered by political deadlock in the UN Security Council.
During the event, ANJP participated in two side sessions focused on the
devastating impact of aggression on victims co-hosted by Co-organized by the
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the Global
Institute for the Prevention of Aggression (GIPA), Parliamentarians for Global
Action (PGA) and TRIAL International, in partnership with the Victims’ Rights
Working Group, and co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the
UN.
Opening remarks were presented by H.E. Amb. Juan Jose Quintana. Chair of the
working group on Amendments (Columbia) with a keynote pre-recorded delivered
by Ms. Oleksandra Matviichuk, Chairwoman of Center for Civil Liberties and
laureate of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize (Ukraine)
The second side event on the importance of harmonization from a civil society
perspective, was moderated by AFLA’s Executive Director, Evelyn A Ankumah
with opening statement by H E Franz Xaver Perrez, Director General,
Directorate of International Law, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of
Switzerland. Panelist presentations delivered by
Prof Jennifer Trahan, Convener and discussant from the Global Institute for the
Prevention of Aggression spared no effort both on the well of the Trusteeship
conference as during this side event to remind the states parties in recalling the
promises of Nuremberg that “this is not just an exercise in policy drafting.
There are real victims of the crime of aggression.” Adding that the UNSC
cannot reserve the right to manifestly violate its charter by the selective
enforcement of the UN Charter. To deter wars, it is time to review the Kampala
amendments and harmonize the court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression.
These discussions emphasized the need for harmonization, accountability and an
end to impunity for powerful states that wage wars against weaker nations.
ANJP stands for justice and peace and condemns all acts of aggression, calling for
the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and negotiation.
Links to concept papers and the full ASP session recordings are available below:
