On 19 July 2024, the International Criminal Court hosted online the sixth Asia Pacific Forum of The Hague. The webinar featured the President of the Court, judge Tomoko Akane , ICC judges Keebong Paek and Erdenebalsuren Damdin, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan and other ICC representatives and Counsels from the Asia-Pacific region to promote awareness of the Court in the Asia Pacific region.
The event featured a High-Level Dialogue with the ICC Judges and Deputy Prosecutor on the theme “Justice Across Borders: The Role of the ICC in the Asia-Pacific”, a Panel Discussion on “Inside the Courtroom: Advancing International Justice Through Diverse Roles of Parties”, followed by an information session by the Court’s Human Resources on Career Opportunities “Working for International Justice”.
President Tomoko Akane emphasized the significance of platforms like the Asia Pacific Forum and stated, “Diversity in personnel is crucial to strengthening the ICC as an institution and enhancing its credibility. Since the law we apply reflects major legal systems worldwide, blending common law and civil law traditions, it is overwhelming to have lawyers from diverse legal backgrounds working together at the Court.”
During the high-level dialogue, Judge Keebong Paek discussed recent developments at the Court, including an introduction to the Court’s structure, the main roles of each organ and offices, key pending cases, and other updates.
Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin shared his personal experience as a lawyer from a developing country joining the ICC. He highlighted that the diversity and inclusion of judges, lawyers, and legal professionals from various backgrounds ensure that different cultures and legal systems enrich the deliberative process. This promotes a deeper understanding of the global context in which crimes occur.
Finally, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan reflected on the Pacific region’s contributions and discussed various policy developments addressing the Asia-Pacific. She provided insights into why better engagement with the region is crucial for the Office of the Prosecutor’s work and for strengthening the Rome Statute through domestic laws.
The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most underrepresented regions at the ICC. The Asia Pacific Forum started in 2018, aiming to facilitate an open dialogue about the Asia Pacific region’s engagement with and contribution to international criminal justice.
This event forms part of a broader effort to enhance global understanding and support for the Rome Statute and the Court and to promote cooperation at the regional level. These include the organization of or participation in high-level regional cooperation seminars and symposiums, technical events and workshops aimed at Government leaders and officials, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, academics and civil society representatives. The International Criminal Court expresses its appreciation to the European Union for the funding provided for the organization of this webinar.
