Our Work

Support for the ICC and the Rome Statute System

The International Criminal Court is a significant part of the international justice system. The ICC was established to end impunity for international crimes by holding the perpetrators of these crimes accountable, and to seek justice and redress for the survivors of these crimes. All states must respect the impartiality and independence of the ICC and stand firm against threats to its mandate.

Advocating for support for the ICC against US sanctions measures

Ahlone ports, Yangon Myanmar

In 2020 we saw the amplification of attacks from the US Government against the International Criminal Court, with threats in March 2020 of sanctions measures against ICC staff, and subsequently in June 2020, imposition of financial sanctions against the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor and another member of the Office of the Prosecutor. The Australian Centre for International Justice worked with human rights organisations to appeal to the Australian Government to condemn the threats and support the ICC against attacks, including through public and private engagement to pursue those ends. The Australian Government joined other States Parties in joint statements to protest the actions of the US Government.

Participation at the ICC Assembly of States Parties

For the first time, the Australian Centre for International Justice was represented at the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court meeting in its 18th session in The Hague in December 2019 and in a virtual setting in 2020. The Australian Centre for International Justice is the first ever Australian civil society organisation to be present at the ASP. We attended meetings and held discussions with delegations and with partners from civil society organisations from around the world to learn from, and contribute to advancing Australia’s role in the fight against impunity for grave crimes.
Ahlone ports, Yangon Myanmar

Supporting accountability at the ICC: Palestine

Ahlone ports, Yangon Myanmar
In February 2020, the Australian Government joined a small group of other States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to intervene in ICC proceedings and provide observations to a Pre-Trial Chamber arguing that the Court has no jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute grave crimes in Palestine. The ACIJ worked with human rights NGO partners in Palestine and others around the world to condemn this move and call on States Parties to support international justice and accountability and withdraw their requests to prevent an investigation from proceeding. Our media release broke the news, and our comments were featured in The Guardian. Rawan Arraf appeared on community radio to explain the proceedings at the ICC and Australia’s position. The ACIJ is committed to working with our NGO partners in Palestine and around the world, who represent victims groups from the occupied Palestinian territory in Gaza and the West Bank, to ensure access to justice at the ICC without discrimination.

Latest on Supporting the International Criminal Court

STATEMENT: ACIJ welcomes Australia’s decision to implement a new autonomous sanctions framework for Afghanistan

STATEMENT: ACIJ welcomes Australia’s decision to implement a new autonomous sanctions framework for Afghanistan

Jan 28, 2026

The Australian Centre for International Justice welcomes the Australian Government’s recent decision to implement a new autonomous sanctions framework for Afghanistan under the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Afghanistan) Regulations 2025 (Cth). This Amendment establishes a unilateral mechanism for the Australian Government, complementing the UN sanctions framework, to exert additional pressure on the Taliban amid an appalling and worsening human rights crisis in Afghanistan.

MEDIA RELEASE: Australian Government should take legal action against Australians fighting in the Israeli military

MEDIA RELEASE: Australian Government should take legal action against Australians fighting in the Israeli military

Jun 26, 2025

On 6 June 2025, the Australian Centre for International Justice wrote to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Federal Police requesting the urgent issuance of clear and unequivocal warnings to the Australian public, and to take all necessary steps to investigate Australian citizens and residents who have been, or are currently, engaged in hostilities in Israel and the unlawfully Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023, for their potential involvement in the commission of international crimes.

JOINT STATEMENT: Australia’s support for Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza must end

JOINT STATEMENT: Australia’s support for Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza must end

May 15, 2025

The Australian Centre for International Justice, together with the Human Rights Law Centre, call upon the Albanese Government as it commences its second term, to uphold fundamental principles of international law and human rights and do all that is necessary and reasonable to bring an end to Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blocking of humanitarian aid.

MEDIA RELEASE: ACIJ condemns the issuance of US Executive Order imposing sanctions on the ICC

MEDIA RELEASE: ACIJ condemns the issuance of US Executive Order imposing sanctions on the ICC

Feb 8, 2025

Responding to the US Executive Order issued by the Trump administration on 6 February 2025, the Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) strongly condemns the decision to impose sanctions on the officials, employees and agents of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Such measures serve only to undermine and intimidate the Court in the execution of its important functions, including that of the Office of the Prosecutor and its mandate to investigate and prosecute international crimes.

MEDIA RELEASE: ACIJ welcomes ICC arrest warrants for crimes in Afghanistan

MEDIA RELEASE: ACIJ welcomes ICC arrest warrants for crimes in Afghanistan

Jan 29, 2025

The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) welcomes the announcement made by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 23 January 2025 concerning the filing of applications for warrants of arrest before the Pre-Trial Chamber II in the Situation in Afghanistan. The arrest warrant applications were filed against two senior Taliban leaders – Taliban Supreme Leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, and the Taliban Chief Justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, asserting reasonable grounds to believe that the alleged perpetrators bear criminal responsibility for the crime against humanity of persecution on the basis of gender grounds.

Statement: Oppose Sanctions Against the International Criminal Court, Safeguard Victims’ Access to Justice

Statement: Oppose Sanctions Against the International Criminal Court, Safeguard Victims’ Access to Justice

Jan 23, 2025

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court and more than 120 of its member non-governmental organisations and coalitions from around the globe strongly oppose efforts by the United States of America (US) to impose sanctions related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and urge ICC member states to defend the ICC, its officials, and those cooperating with it from measures aimed at undermining the court’s vital mandate for justice.

The Australian Centre for International Justice fights to hold accountable those responsible for the most serious international crimes. It continues to be an enormous challenge.

We work with survivors of torture, sexual violence, genocide and war to research and develop strategies to fight for justice.

We are Australia’s first specialist legal centre providing strategic advice and representation to people seeking justice and accountability.

We take action against the impunity of those responsible for committing atrocity crimes. We all benefit by supporting communities in Australia and around the world access justice.

We need your support to fight for justice.

Join us to advance international justice in Australia and make a tax-deductible donation to support our work and help us push our projects and litigation.

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