Kutse

Subject: Invitation to a Judicial Seminar and the Opening of the Judicial Year of the

International Criminal Court, 27 January 2026

Excellency,

It is my distinct pleasure to invite you to the 7th Judicial Seminar as well as the Opening of

the Judicial Year of the International Criminal Court (ICC, Court), which will be held at the

seat of the Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Tuesday 27 January 2026, and

simultaneously online.

The purpose of the ICC’s annual Judicial Seminar is to provide a space for a frank exchange

of views on topical issues in the international criminal justice system. The participants of the

Judicial Seminar are judges of the ICC, senior judges of the national jurisdictions of the States

Parties to the Rome Statute, as well as senior judges of international and regional courts. The

Judicial Seminar is organized with the financial support of the European Union.

The Opening of the Judicial Year is a ceremonial, symbolic event held in Courtroom I of the

ICC, which underlines the Court’s special nature among international organisations as an

independent judicial institution, and signals the beginning of another cycle of annual work in

the Court’s life.

*

The topic chosen for the 7th Judicial Seminar is: “Safeguarding Judicial Independence in the

Wake of Contemporary Challenges”.

The 7th Judicial Seminar of the ICC will focus on the safeguarding of judicial independence,

particularly in light of contemporary challenges. An independent judiciary is an indispensable

component of the right to a fair trial and access to justice. Further, its importance goes beyond

respecting the rights of parties in a particular case: an independent judiciary is a fundamental

pillar of the rule of law and as such judicial independence safeguards the force of law and the

values they seek to protect, be it at the domestic or at the international level.

H.E. dr. iur.Villu Kõve

Chief Justice

Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Estonia

Reference: 2025/PRES/185/TA

Date: 12 December 2025

The International Criminal Court itself has been the subject of several attacks and attempts to

interfere with its proceedings, in the form of coercive measures by States, cyber-attacks and

witness interference. The contemporary system designed to prosecute international crimes via

international and primarily domestic courts relies on an independent judiciary which

guarantees the serenity of such proceedings. Attacks against the judiciary therefore endangers

the very notion of the fight against impunity and must therefore be dealt with by determined

action.

However, the Judicial Seminar is by no means intended to focus on the ICC only; it is equally

an opportunity to explore the experiences of national jurisdictions as well as international,

hybrid or regional courts and tribunals.

*

The first session of the Seminar will focus on the topic “Attacks against the judiciary and

existing mechanisms to ensure judicial independence”. Attacks against the judiciary

continue to persist across jurisdictions. The United Nations Basic Principles on the

Independence of the Judiciary stipulates that ‘the independence of the judiciary shall be

guaranteed by the State and enshrined in the Constitution or the law of the country’ and that

‘it is the duty of all governmental and other institutions to respect and observe the

independence of the judiciary’. It is therefore the responsibility of States to ensure that there

are sufficient mechanisms to safeguard judicial independence. However, the availability of

such mechanisms may vary from one jurisdiction to another and for international courts,

which are not within the authority of a single State, there may be unique challenges in

pinpointing the responsibility of each State.

The second part of the Seminar will be devoted to the topic “Digital technology and judicial

independence”. In this session, we look at how respective judicial bodies have dealt with the

issue of digital technology, including the use of artificial intelligence, in their proceedings and

what challenges they pose to judicial independence.

In both sessions of the Judicial Seminar, ample time will be reserved for open discussion

among the participants. To allow for a candid and open exchange of views between judges,

the Judicial Seminar will not be a public event, and discussions will take place under Chatham

House rules. Accordingly, while a report reflecting the content of the conversations will be

produced and made public, no statements will be attributable to individual participants,

except for summaries of any introductory remarks listed on the final programme.

*

The provisional programme of the day is as follows (timings subject to change):

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Location: premises of the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands

10:00-11:00 Opening of Judicial Year (Courtroom I)

11:00-11:30 Coffee

11:30-12:00 Opening of judicial seminar and keynote speech

12:00-13:00 Judicial Seminar, 1st session (ICC conference cluster)

13:00-13:45 Buffet lunch

13:45-14:45 Judicial Seminar, 2nd session (ICC conference cluster)

14:45-15:00 Closing of the Judicial Seminar

While we very much hope that you can attend the Judicial Seminar in person, the Court will

also put in place arrangements for remote participation for those invitees who are unable to

travel to the Netherlands for any reason. Details on this will follow.

Regrettably the Court is not in position to sponsor any travel or accommodation costs of the

participants.

*

Excellency, your participation would make an invaluable contribution to the Judicial Seminar

of the ICC as well as the Ceremony for the Opening of the Judicial Year, and I sincerely hope

that you will be able to accept this invitation, or designate another judge to attend in your

stead.

The Court would be grateful to receive confirmations of participation no later than Monday,

5 January 2026 via email to [email protected], indicating whether you intend to

attend in person, or virtually by way of remote connection (the details of which will be

communicated later). This is to allow the Court sufficient time to put in place appropriate

arrangements depending on the number of participants.

Again, I look forward to hopefully seeing you, or another representative of your country’s

judiciary, on 27 January 2026.

Excellency, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Tomoko Akane

ICC President

Subject: Invitation to a Judicial Seminar and the Opening of the Judicial Year of the

International Criminal Court, 27 January 2026

Excellency,

It is my distinct pleasure to invite you to the 7th Judicial Seminar as well as the Opening of

the Judicial Year of the International Criminal Court (ICC, Court), which will be held at the

seat of the Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Tuesday 27 January 2026, and

simultaneously online.

The purpose of the ICC’s annual Judicial Seminar is to provide a space for a frank exchange

of views on topical issues in the international criminal justice system. The participants of the

Judicial Seminar are judges of the ICC, senior judges of the national jurisdictions of the States

Parties to the Rome Statute, as well as senior judges of international and regional courts. The

Judicial Seminar is organized with the financial support of the European Union.

The Opening of the Judicial Year is a ceremonial, symbolic event held in Courtroom I of the

ICC, which underlines the Court’s special nature among international organisations as an

independent judicial institution, and signals the beginning of another cycle of annual work in

the Court’s life.

*

The topic chosen for the 7th Judicial Seminar is: “Safeguarding Judicial Independence in the

Wake of Contemporary Challenges”.

The 7th Judicial Seminar of the ICC will focus on the safeguarding of judicial independence,

particularly in light of contemporary challenges. An independent judiciary is an indispensable

component of the right to a fair trial and access to justice. Further, its importance goes beyond

respecting the rights of parties in a particular case: an independent judiciary is a fundamental

pillar of the rule of law and as such judicial independence safeguards the force of law and the

values they seek to protect, be it at the domestic or at the international level.

H.E. dr. iur.Villu Kõve

Chief Justice

Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Estonia

Reference: 2025/PRES/185/TA

Date: 12 December 2025

The International Criminal Court itself has been the subject of several attacks and attempts to

interfere with its proceedings, in the form of coercive measures by States, cyber-attacks and

witness interference. The contemporary system designed to prosecute international crimes via

international and primarily domestic courts relies on an independent judiciary which

guarantees the serenity of such proceedings. Attacks against the judiciary therefore endangers

the very notion of the fight against impunity and must therefore be dealt with by determined

action.

However, the Judicial Seminar is by no means intended to focus on the ICC only; it is equally

an opportunity to explore the experiences of national jurisdictions as well as international,

hybrid or regional courts and tribunals.

*

The first session of the Seminar will focus on the topic “Attacks against the judiciary and

existing mechanisms to ensure judicial independence”. Attacks against the judiciary

continue to persist across jurisdictions. The United Nations Basic Principles on the

Independence of the Judiciary stipulates that ‘the independence of the judiciary shall be

guaranteed by the State and enshrined in the Constitution or the law of the country’ and that

‘it is the duty of all governmental and other institutions to respect and observe the

independence of the judiciary’. It is therefore the responsibility of States to ensure that there

are sufficient mechanisms to safeguard judicial independence. However, the availability of

such mechanisms may vary from one jurisdiction to another and for international courts,

which are not within the authority of a single State, there may be unique challenges in

pinpointing the responsibility of each State.

The second part of the Seminar will be devoted to the topic “Digital technology and judicial

independence”. In this session, we look at how respective judicial bodies have dealt with the

issue of digital technology, including the use of artificial intelligence, in their proceedings and

what challenges they pose to judicial independence.

In both sessions of the Judicial Seminar, ample time will be reserved for open discussion

among the participants. To allow for a candid and open exchange of views between judges,

the Judicial Seminar will not be a public event, and discussions will take place under Chatham

House rules. Accordingly, while a report reflecting the content of the conversations will be

produced and made public, no statements will be attributable to individual participants,

except for summaries of any introductory remarks listed on the final programme.

*

The provisional programme of the day is as follows (timings subject to change):

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Location: premises of the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands

10:00-11:00 Opening of Judicial Year (Courtroom I)

11:00-11:30 Coffee

11:30-12:00 Opening of judicial seminar and keynote speech

12:00-13:00 Judicial Seminar, 1st session (ICC conference cluster)

13:00-13:45 Buffet lunch

13:45-14:45 Judicial Seminar, 2nd session (ICC conference cluster)

14:45-15:00 Closing of the Judicial Seminar

While we very much hope that you can attend the Judicial Seminar in person, the Court will

also put in place arrangements for remote participation for those invitees who are unable to

travel to the Netherlands for any reason. Details on this will follow.

Regrettably the Court is not in position to sponsor any travel or accommodation costs of the

participants.

*

Excellency, your participation would make an invaluable contribution to the Judicial Seminar

of the ICC as well as the Ceremony for the Opening of the Judicial Year, and I sincerely hope

that you will be able to accept this invitation, or designate another judge to attend in your

stead.

The Court would be grateful to receive confirmations of participation no later than Monday,

5 January 2026 via email to [email protected], indicating whether you intend to

attend in person, or virtually by way of remote connection (the details of which will be

communicated later). This is to allow the Court sufficient time to put in place appropriate

arrangements depending on the number of participants.

Again, I look forward to hopefully seeing you, or another representative of your country’s

judiciary, on 27 January 2026.

Excellency, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Tomoko Akane

ICC President