During the Generation Equality Forum Summit, which took place in Paris on 30 June-2 July 2021, the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) joined the Generation Equality Forum, a global gathering for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-chaired by France and Mexico, in partnership with civil society and youth.
Following the leadership of Judge Piotr Hofmański, President of the Court, ICC Prosecutor, Karim A. A. Khan QC and ICC Registrar, Peter Lewis, the ICC joined the Forum by making a concrete commitment as part of the Action Coalition “Feminist movements and leadership”: to adopt, implement and review its first Strategy on Gender Equality and Workplace Culture by 2025.
As highlighted in the ICC’s High Level Statement on Gender Equality of 30 April 2021, the Principals of the Court are committed to achieving gender equality and a safe and inclusive workplace culture and environment at the Court.
ICC President Hofmański highlighted: “We intend to consult extensively in the articulation of the Court’s first Strategy on Gender Equality and Workplace Culture, so that it can be an inclusive, transformative and concrete blueprint for meaningful and sustainable change for the organization and its personnel – change in terms of culture, structures and processes where needed”.
Based on this Strategy, specific action plans will be further identified, either reflecting, streamlining and coordinating ongoing efforts, or taking steps to address gaps and meet further needs.
In this process, the Court will carry out extensive and thorough consultations in the coming months, both internally and externally with a large array of stakeholders. Further information will be made available shortly concerning the start of consultations. The Court’s Principals wish to encourage and look forward to an active and wide participation in this process.
Background: The Forum is mobilizing a global partnership of States, UN agencies and international organizations, civil society organizations, youth-led organizations and philanthropies and private companies, who are making concrete commitments to drive action and accountability for gender equality across all sectors and worldwide. The Forum kicked off in Mexico City from 29 – 31 March 2021 and culminated in Paris.
The aim of the Forum is to catalyse tangible progress towards gender equality during the UN Decade of Action (2020-2030) to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular, but not only, Sustainable Development Goal #5, on Gender Equality.