Defending the principles of accountability
Challenges highlighted by PGA in early 2025 persisted through the year's second half, posing a serious threat of undermining the international rule of law. Actors working on truth and fact-finding and accountability, including the International Criminal Court and civil society organizations, are facing increasing political interference and external pressure, such as sanctions and attacks.
Parliamentarians remained key voices in upholding the principles of accountability, actively speaking out in defense of the international justice system, engaging in high-level dialogues to strengthen the fight against impunity, and advocating for the recognition of new crimes under international law. As we strengthen support and solidarity for international justice mechanisms, PGA remains committed to closing accountability gaps, achieving universality of the Rome Statute, and advancing initiatives that offer hope to victims and survivors of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.
In this 12th edition, you will find:
Advocacy on the Crime of Aggression
On 7 July 2025, PGA President Hon. Syed Naveed Qamar, MP (Pakistan), addressed the Special Session on the review of the amendments on the crime of aggression of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, urging States to harmonize the ICC's jurisdiction over the crime of aggression with that of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
At a high-level side event co-organized by PGA and civil society partners, Hon. Amanza Walton-Desir, MP (Guyana) and PGA executive committee member, shared her country's experience and highlighted the political will required to advance harmonization. Although consensus in favor of harmonization was not reached by the Assembly of States Parties, PGA will continue to mobilize parliamentarians over the coming years to strengthen support.
Centering victims and advancing gender justice
On International Criminal Justice Day on 17 July 2025, PGA jointly published a statement with the Global Initiative Against Impunity emphasizing that victims and survivors of atrocity crimes must be at the center of international justice processes. Dip. Margarita Stolbizer (Argentina) and Hon. Dr. Galyna Mykhailiuk, MP (Ukraine) commemorated the day via video messages, sharing what justice means for Ukrainians.
In the months following the June 2025 roundtable on gender justice, PGA published a policy brief providing practical steps that parliamentarians can take for the recognition and codification of gender apartheid as a crime under international law, including in the future UN Convention on Crimes Against Humanity.
To maintain momentum on this issue, on the anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, PGA shared video messages from two Afghan parliamentarians in exile, Ms. Mariam Solaimankhil and Ms. Fawzia Koofi, highlighting the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and their calls for solidarity and international action.
Expanding universality and parliamentary engagement
On 16 October 2025, PGA engaged with members of the Iraqi Parliament and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss Iraq's potential accession to the Rome Statute and reparations for victims. The meeting identified opportunities for future cooperation and deeper engagement to build informed support for international justice. The following day, PGA briefed parliamentarians of its national group in Ecuador on various topics related to international justice, including the ICC, Ljubljana-The Hague Convention, the crime of aggression, crimes against humanity, and ecocide.
On 28 November 2025, PGA convened an African Working Group Dialogue on International Justice and the International Criminal Court in Nairobi, bringing together 22 parliamentarians from 15 African countries as well as experts, government officials, and local civil society. As Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced in September their intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute, speakers addressed concerns about Africa's engagement with the ICC and challenges in achieving universality and effective implementation of the Rome Statute. Participants also discussed complementarity with regional justice mechanisms and the need for stronger laws to address gender-based crimes, ecocide, slavery, and the slave trade.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a Plan of Action in which parliamentarians committed to strengthening international cooperation and promoting broader ratification of the Rome Statute to ensure accountability for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
On 1 December 2025, PGA co-organized a side event during the 24th session of the Assembly of Parties to the ICC in The Hague, calling for universality of the Rome Statute. Hon. Grace Neema Paininye, MP (Democratic Republic of the Congo) emphasized the role of parliamentarians in supporting victims and survivors of atrocity crimes, strengthening national legislation, and harmonizing domestic legislation with the Rome Statute. Hon. Fawzia Koofi, MP in exile (Afghanistan), urged the recognition and codification of gender apartheid as a crime under international law and called for support of global accountability mechanisms.
Positive developments for delivering justice
On 1 July 2025, Seychelles completed ratification of the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression. Hon. Bernard Georges, MP (Seychelles), and Member of the PGA Executive Committee, shared proud remarks on his country's leadership and commitment to the fight against impunity. On 17 October 2025, Spain ratified four Article 8 amendments, covering the use of biological weapons, non-detectable fragments, blinding laser weapons, and starvation as a weapon of war.
On 3 December 2025, PGA signed a joint statement welcoming Germany's surrender of Mr. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, who was issued an arrest warrant by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Libya between 2015 and early 2020. As his transfer is the first time a suspect of international crimes committed in Libya has been brought before the Court, it marks an important step toward justice for victims in the country.
In 2026, important developments are taking place on the future Crimes Against Humanity Convention. These began with the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity held in New York from 19 to 30 January 2026. States can submit proposals for amendments to draft articles by 30 April 2026.
We therefore call on parliamentarians to actively engage their governments to support a human rights-based treaty that complements the Rome Statute and ensures perpetrators of crimes against humanity are held accountable and brought to justice. The Convention should include:
- Guaranteed meaningful participation, protection and full and effective reparations for victims and survivors;
- Codifying progressive developments in international law, including recognition of gender apartheid, forced marriage, reproductive violence, and slavery and slave trade as distinct crimes against humanity; and
- Amending provisions on the crimes against humanity of persecution, enforced disappearance, and torture, to broaden protections in line with customary international law.
PGA stands ready to support its members in these efforts. If you would like to take action or need assistance, please contact the International Law and Human Rights Program.
Together, we can ensure that justice is within reach for all victims and survivors of crimes against humanity.
A summary of some key ICC judicial developments in the second half of 2025 is available here.
For more frequent updates, PGA's biweekly International Justice Updates provides key global highlights on cooperation, impunity, legislative/parliamentary developments, and judicial developments.