On 16-18 September 2025, the Tenth Seminar on Cooperation with national focal points took place at the seat of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") in The Hague, The Netherlands, with the theme "Effective Justice through Efficient Cooperation". For three days, a number of officials and focal points from States where investigations are being conducted and other States playing a key role in cooperation met with Court officials and staff to discuss cooperation with the ICC and share good practices. 32 representatives from 19 States were present, including representatives from 6 States not parties to the Rome Statute.
ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane stated: "None of the Court's achievements would be possible without the cooperation of States: from the investigation phase, to the arrest and surrender, and from the protection of witnesses to the release and enforcement of sentences, the Court relies on your practical contributions. You are truly invaluable to the Court, and I hope you also take pride in the Court's achievements, which you have helped make possible."
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said: "The Office of the Prosecutor remains clearly focused on strengthening our partnerships with national partners in the fight against impunity. And that relationship must be a two-way street. In addition to engaging in cooperation in support of OTP investigations, we are providing direct support to domestic investigations and prosecutions for core international crimes conducted by authorities of situation countries as well as third States. Even amidst current challenges, we are committed to a proactive approach in supporting accountability efforts beyond our own cases."
ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler emphasised that: "State cooperation is vital, not only as a demonstration of solidarity, but also as a form of protection of the Court's mandate and ensuring its resilience."
States play an essential role in implementing the Court's decisions, orders and requests, and States Parties often nominate a national focal point to coordinate and channel communications between national authorities and the Court. This week, the focal points discussed topics related to cooperation with the Court on: increased understanding of the role of a focal point; challenges affecting cooperation delivery; improving processes and tools of cooperation through experience sharing; deepening focal points' understanding of the challenges affecting various judicial cooperation areas, such as witness protection and the post-trial instances of an ICC case, among others, and sharpening cooperation tools to tackle these challenges.
The seminar with focal points forms part of broader efforts to further advance cooperation with the ICC and enhance global support for the Court, in particular in countries where investigations are ongoing.
The Court is grateful to the European Union for its generous financial support of the Seminar and previous similar events since 2011. The Court would also like to avail this opportunity to thank all of the focal points for their exceptional dedication and hard work in supporting the ICC's proceedings and for their participation in this seminar.
