Today the Government of the United States announced concrete measures against the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and a senior staff member in her office. I strongly reject such unprecedented and unacceptable measures against a treaty-based international  organization.  They  only  serve  to  weaken  our  common  endeavor  to  fight impunity for mass atrocities.

On 11 June 2020 the Government of the United States announced new measures against the International Criminal Court (ICC). These measures are unprecedented. They undermine our common endeavor to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities. I deeply regret measures targeting Court officials, staff and their families.

The Court is independent and impartial. The ICC is a court of law. It operates in strict adherence to the provisions of the Rome Statute.

In relation to recent statements regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC), I would like to reiterate that the Court and its staff have the strong support of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. I reaffirm our full confidence in the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution and reiterate our strong commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute and to preserve its integrity undeterred by any threats against the Court.

​On 23 January the International Criminal Court marked the opening of the judicial year 2020. On this occasion the President of the Assembly of States Parties, Mr. O-Gon Kwon, stated:

"On behalf of the Assembly of States Parties, I take the opportunity to once again reiterate our resolute and continuous support for the Court as a judicial institution which must continue to undertake its mandate in an independent and impartial manner acting strictly within the legal framework of the Rome Statute, its founding treaty."

The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court ("the Assembly") held its eighteenth session from 2 to 6 December 2019 at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague. The Assembly was attended by States Parties, observer States, invited States, international and regional organizations and representatives of civil society.

The session was chaired by the President of the Assembly, H.E. Mr. O-Gon Kwon.

The term of the current Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will expire on 15 June 2021. The Assembly of States Parties, acting pursuant to its mandate under article 112 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (the Rome Statute), has initiated the process for the selection of the next Prosecutor.

The President of the Assembly of States Parties, Mr. O-Gon Kwon (Republic of Korea), welcomes the new members of the Committee on the Election of the Prosecutor (CEP) and its panel of experts.

"The CEP has been established to facilitate the nomination of the next Prosecutor. On behalf of the Assembly of States Parties, I am confident and appreciative for the contribution of the CEP, which will support the crucial function of the Assembly in electing the highest qualified Prosecutor for the Court".

The President of the Assembly of States Parties, Mr. O-Gon Kwon (Republic of Korea), has reiterated his regret regarding the withdrawal of the Philippines, effective as of 17 March 2019, from the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court ("ICC").

President Kwon noted, "the Assembly of States Parties, comprising more than 120 States from all regions of the world, is fully committed to the Court's mandate: to help put an end to impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community."

In relation to the statement made today by the United States Secretary of State regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC), I would like to reiterate that the Court has the strong support of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute.

The President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, Mr. O-Gon Kwon, today welcomed the deposit by Malaysia, on 4 March 2019, of its instrument of accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).