On 22 September, the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") launched its Gender Equality and Enabling Environment (GEEE) Strategy 2026-2029, reaffirming its commitment to building an inclusive, respectful and equitable institution where all personnel can contribute fully to the Court's mandate.
The new strategy marks the next phase of the Court's work on gender equality and workplace culture. It builds on the achievements, experience and lessons learned from the implementation of the Gender Equality and Workplace Culture Strategy 2023-2025, while further strengthening this work across the Court.
The new framework expands the focus beyond workplace culture and considers the wider conditions that help people strive and contribute to the institution's work. This broader approach is reflected in the shift to an "Enabling Environment".
At the heart of the Strategy are the Court's Core Values: Accountability, Fairness, Inclusion, and Integrity. The aim is to ensure that these are reflected in it's the Court's internal culture and everyday practices. The strategy has been developed as a Court-wide commitment, involving all organs and personnel and recognising that lasting institutional change requires collective ownership.
Launching the strategy, ICC President Tomoko Akane emphasised that "gender equality is an absolute institutional prerequisite at the ICC. With the formal implementation of our second strategic framework, we reaffirm our dedication to cultivating a workplace governed by dignity, equity and mutual respect-tenets that remain indispensable to the administration of international criminal justice."
The GEEE Strategy 2026-2029 also recognises that an inclusive, respectful and responsive work environment is essential for the institution to effectively fulfil its responsibilities. The new strategy takes an intersectional approach, recognising that people's experiences within the workplace can be shaped by multiple and overlapping dimensions of identity.
Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, noted: "We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone can contribute, be heard and reach their full potential. By embracing diversity and advancing gender equality, we strengthen not only our workplace, but also our collective ability to deliver on the Court's mandate."
ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler highlighted that "our pioneering 2023-2025 strategy has yielded institutional milestones. With the launch of this second strategy, we are advancing efforts to make the high standards the Court promotes worldwide an integral part of how it operates. Through the 2026-2029 strategy, we will continue to turn our Core Values into action, fostering a resilient and enabling workplace that respects and reflects the diverse intersectional identities and expressions of our global workforce."
Moving forward, regular reporting on the Strategy's implementation will provide opportunities to identify patterns and promote dialogue. Building on experience and lessons learned, the Court will continue to ensure that its values are reflected both in its mission and its everyday work.
