Promising achievements amid unprecedented challenges

The year 2025 began in a particularly promising spirit for the fight against impunity: on January 1, Ukraine officially became the 125th State Party to the Rome Statute. This milestone, a result of sustained efforts by PGA members, reflects that peace processes must never come at the expense of accountability. Marking three years of full-scale war in Ukraine, Dr. Galyna Mykhailiuk, MP (Ukraine) and PGA Executive Committee Member, affirmed: “Peace cannot come without justice, and for this to happen, those responsible must be held accountable, including for the crime of aggression.”

Yet, global challenges have intensified over the past six months. On February 19, PGA expressed grave concerns for the escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Civilians have long endured atrocities, with women and girls disproportionately affected. Hon. Christelle Vuanga, MP (DRC) and PGA member, called for urgent action: “We must break the cycle of impunity […]. The international community must go beyond statements and provide support and solidarity with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, therefore acting decisively to protect civilians, support survivors and work towards a just and lasting peace.”

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has come under unprecedented threats, including Russian Federation arrest warrants targeting Court officials, cyberattacks, and intimidation campaigns. In February 2025, the U.S. administration imposed sanctions against the ICC Prosecutor, and later extended them to four judges in June 2025. Raising awareness about these pressures, PGA co-sponsored a high-level event titled “Beyond Rhetoric: the EU’s Role in Upholding International Justice,” on March 6 at the European Parliament. On this occasion, the ICC Registrar emphasized how the ICC contributes to a world where perpetrators are held accountable, because “peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” Participants, including Mr. Juan Fernando López Aguilar, MP (European Parliament) and PGA member, joined calls urging the European Union to take concrete actions to protect the Court, including by activating the Blocking Statute.

These threats were again in focus during the European Union Day Against Impunity on May 23. The Global Initiative Against Impunity, which includes Parliamentarians for Global Action, issued an urgent call for the European Union to adopt measures that will decisively prevent the erosion of accountability and uphold victims’ rights. More than 50 civil society organizations signed the joint statement.

Adding to these challenges, on June 2, Hungary formally deposited its instrument of withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which represents a serious setback for the fight against impunity in Europe. While this development is “part of a broader pattern of democratic backsliding” in the country, as recorded by Tineke Strik, MP (European Parliament) and PGA member, such a decision weakens accountability mechanisms and risks emboldening those who disregard the rule of law. Hungary’s withdrawal will take effect in one year, namely on June 2, 2026. In response, PGA members have called on their governments to take a clear position regarding Hungary’s democratic backsliding.

Building support for universality

Expanding ratification of the Rome Statute remains at the heart of Parliamentarians for Global Action’s Campaign. On January 22 and 23, the secretariat facilitated, for the second time, a visit of a delegation of Somali MPs to The Hague to deepen understanding of the ICC’s role. Despite political instability in the country delaying progress, Somali parliamentarians reiterated their commitment to ratification, and Parliamentarians for Global Action stands ready to assist their efforts towards this achievement.

On International Women’s Day on March 7, the Rome Statute Campaign and the Democratic Renewal and Human Rights Campaign jointly called for removing all obstacles to women’s participation in public life. On this occasion, Afghan MPs in exile highlighted the Taliban’s systematic oppression of women, describing it as institutionalized “gender apartheid.” Recognizing this reality is critical to accountability efforts, which need to adopt a survivor-centered and gender responsive approach.

These issues were further highlighted during a high-level roundtable on June 19, hosted by the Senate of the Netherlands. Afghan parliamentarians in exile, Afghan human rights defenders, Dutch senators, international experts, and representatives from civil society organizations and countries discussed strategies to keep Afghanistan on the international agenda and pursue justice for Afghan women, including through the codification of the crime of gender apartheid. PGA Secretary General, Ms. Mónica Adame, emphasized that parliamentarians worldwide have a vital role to play in advancing accountability, including by advocating for their countries to present the case against Afghanistan before the International Court of Justice.

Progress for accountability

Despite challenges, meaningful steps forward were taken to strengthen accountability. From January 15 to 16, PGA participated in the First World Congress on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva. With only 77 States Parties to the Convention, the Congress called for renewed efforts to promote universal ratification. Parliamentarians for Global Action members Mr. Vladimir Vardanyan, MP (Armenia), and Senator Boris Dittrich (the Netherlands) stressed parliamentarians’ critical role in driving positive change.

Another landmark development came when Philippine authorities successfully arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte and transferred him to the ICC on March 11. Mr. Duterte faces charges as an alleged indirect co-perpetrator of crimes against humanity, linked to thousands of extrajudicial killings during his “war on drugs.” Senator Leila de Lima, MP (The Philippines) and PGA member, who was unjustly imprisoned for nearly seven years for opposing Duterte’s policies, reflected: “This is not about vengeance. This is about justice finally taking its course.”

In recent months, Parliamentarians for Global Action’s secretariat has intensified advocacy ahead of the upcoming Special session on the review of the amendments on the crime of aggression, scheduled for July 7- 9, 2025, in New York.

This Session offers a unique opportunity to align the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression with that of the three other crimes for which the Court is competent: genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes – a matter for which PGA has long advocated.

Since the crime of aggression was activated in 2018, the International Criminal Court has been empowered to prosecute political and military leaders for the most serious forms of unlawful use of force. This mandate is becoming increasingly vital as the international order is being undermined by a rising number of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law.

However, the current jurisdictional regime remains highly restrictive. The International Criminal Court cannot exercise jurisdiction over acts of aggression involving States that are not Parties to the Rome Statute, or even States Parties that have not formally accepted the Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. This holds true even when the victim is a State Party. This limitation has created a serious accountability gap, effectively denying justice to many victims.

As aggressive warfare resurges, reinforcing accountability for the crime of aggression is of the utmost importance, and this Special Session presents a critical opportunity to strengthen the international legal framework designed to prevent and punish acts of aggression. Parliamentarians for Global Action calls on all its members to engage with their governments to help seize this moment.

Your voice and action are urgently needed to help advocate for further accountability and shift this dynamic. In the lead-up to the Special session, we therefore strongly encourage you to engage your Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

• Urge your government to confirm its participation in the Special session to the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
• Advocate for support of harmonization of the ICC’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression with that over the other three core crimes, notably by endorsing the proposal of amendment submitted by Costa Rica, Germany, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Vanuatu.
• Advocate for the amendment to enter into force under the same procedure as the original Kampala amendments for the crime of aggression - through Art. 121(5) of the Rome Statute which governs the entry into force of amendments relating to the core crimes, including the crime of aggression. Any other suggested procedure, such as through Art. 121(4) of the Rome Statute, as suggested by some states, would render the entry into force unrealistic, as it requires 7/8 States to ratify the amendment for it to enter into force, which would currently amount to 109 States. Such step is therefore unfeasible and, importantly, legally unnecessary.

If you would like to take action or need assistance, the Secretariat is ready to support your efforts.