International Criminal Court marks Opening of the Judicial Year 2026

On 27 January 2026, the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") held a solemn hearing for the opening of its judicial year, featuring speeches of this year's keynote speaker, the President of the Central American Court of Justice, César Ernesto Salazar Grande, ICC Principals, and the Vice President of the ICC Bar Association. ICC judges as well as the Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), Ambassador Margareta Kassangana, Representatives from national jurisdictions, regional or international courts, the diplomatic corps, civil society and international organisations, also attended the event in ICC Courtroom 1 or through the online streaming.

The President of the Court, Judge Tomoko Akane, opened the ceremony and stated: "As much as this is an opportunity to reflect on our commitment towards the Rome Statute system, I also hope that this solemn hearing serves as a moment of unity amongst us who are determined to ensure that the rule of law prevails. We are entrusted with an important and sacred promise towards the future: to realise a more just world for the sake of future generations. This may seem impossible if we stand alone. But collectively, we can withstand any challenge that may come our way."

The President of the Central American Court of Justice, César Ernesto Salazar Grande, delivered the keynote address of the session on international courts and their essential functions of ensuring the law and judicial protection, and affirmed: "We must unite and remain mindful of our commitment to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights instruments, of the need for ongoing dialogue between international and regional tribunals to foster judicial cooperation and the exchange of experiences and legal criteria relevant to effective judicial protection, and that our sole objective is peace and justice."

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan noted: "Justice is not an abstract ideal, it is a lifeline. In 2026, let us reaffirm that accountability is not optional; it is the foundation of peace and the promise we owe to victims everywhere."

ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler affirmed: "The Court has made important steps towards protecting our ability to continue to do our work unimpeded, precisely because the mandate entrusted by the Rome Statute and the international community has never been more relevant, or more important to victims and affected communities."

The Vice President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA), Anta Guissé, stated: "We all know that the International Criminal Court can only fully carry out its mandate if it remains independent and protected from all forms of pressure. However, this new judicial year must also be a moment of hope. When fear or discouragement threaten to take hold, let us turn to those who, in situation countries, continue to administer justice with courage under conditions that are infinitely more difficult. Let them know, from Palestine to Sudan, from Yemen to Burundi, from Georgia to Afghanistan or Ukraine, that, out of respect for them and for the affected populations, we will not give up. We will continue to uphold the rule of law and international law, contributing, to the best of our abilities, to fair proceedings that respect the rights of both the accused and the victims."

The solemn hearing was followed by the ICC's Seventh Judicial Seminar attended by ICC judges and more than 35 judges from international, regional and national courts, including several chief justices of ICC States Parties, held both online and at the seat of the Court. This year's Seminar focused on the safeguarding of judicial independence, particularly in light of contemporary challenges, offering an opportunity to explore the experiences of national jurisdictions as well as international, hybrid, or regional courts and tribunals. The first session discussed attacks against the judiciary and existing mechanisms to ensure judicial independence, while the second session was devoted to digital technology and judicial independence. A summary report of the Judicial Seminar, held under Chatham House rules, will be issued subsequently.

The Court is very grateful to the European Union for its generous financial support to the Judicial Seminar.

Audio-Visual materials:

• YouTube (for viewing): English, French, Spanish, Floor
• Audio (for download): English, French, Spanish, Floor
• Video (for download): English, French, Spanish, Floor

Photographs of the event

For more information, please contact the ICC Public Affairs Unit: [email protected]. You can also follow the Court's activities on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Flickr