The International Criminal Court (ICC) has recently been in the news on several significant fronts. On June 3, 2025, the ICC Appeals Chamber delivered its judgment in the appeal of Joseph Kony’s Defence regarding the criteria for holding confirmation of charges proceedings in absentia. The Chamber upheld the earlier ruling, confirming that the Rome Statute allows the confirmation of charges hearing to proceed without the suspect’s prior initial appearance if the person “cannot be found.” The judgment emphasized that this interpretation aligns with the Statute’s objectives and includes robust safeguards to protect fair trial rights[1].
In late June 2025, the ICC detected and contained a new, sophisticated, and targeted cyber security incident—its second of this type in recent years. The Court promptly managed the situation, initiated a Court-wide impact analysis, and has begun mitigation efforts. The ICC underlined the importance of public transparency and international support in facing such challenges, highlighting the growing threats to its critical justice mandate[2][7].
The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor has also been active in various international contexts, including ongoing investigations and the publication of new policy initiatives, such as on cyber-enabled crimes and environmental accountability. Other notable developments include the ICC’s continued work in Guinea regarding domestic proceedings for the 2009 events in Conakry, and applications for arrest warrants in complex situations such as Afghanistan and Bangladesh/Myanmar[3].
On the political front, the ICC continues to face opposition from certain states. In February 2025, the United States, under President Donald J. Trump, imposed sanctions on the ICC, criticizing its investigations and asserting that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over U.S. and Israeli personnel. The U.S. government argued that the Court’s actions threaten its sovereignty and national security[4].
Meanwhile, the Trust Fund for Victims, closely linked to the ICC, has continued its work supporting survivors of crimes under the Court’s jurisdiction, with recent contributions and support from countries including Finland, Côte d’Ivoire, Germany, and Portugal[5].
References
- [1] Kony case: ICC Appeals Chamber confirms the decision on the criteria for holding confirmation of charges proceedings in absentia
- [2] ICC detects and contains new sophisticated cyber security incident
- [3] News – | International Criminal Court
- [4] Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court
- [5] | International Criminal Court
- [7] International Criminal Court targeted by new ‘sophisticated’ attack