Hosted by the National Assembly of Pakistan, PGA's 45th Annual Forum and 13th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians on the International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law (CAP-ICC), was held in person on 28 and 29 October 2024.
On this occasion, we also presented the 2024 Defender of Democracy Award during a dedicated ceremony.
The CAP-ICC is the only high-level global gathering of political representatives from all regions, focused on developing strategies to strengthen international justice, prevent atrocities and ensure accountability for sustainable peace. Over the course of two days, parliamentarians from around the world will engage in open dialogue with their parliamentary peers, experts, academics, government officials, representatives of the International Criminal Court and international organizations on advancing domestic and international criminal justice, promoting the rule of law and human rights.
Furthermore, the CAP-ICC aims at furthering the progress of the universal ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), i.e., the only permanent international court mandated to investigate and prosecute the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole. The parliamentarians will thus have an opportunity to exchange on their experiences and best practices relating to the ratification and effective implementation of the Rome Statute, as well as associated obstacles and hurdles encountered in the process.
The challenges posed to multilateralism and the multiplication of conflicts force all stakeholders to increase efforts against impunity to fulfill the commitment of “never again.” Universal ratification and strengthening of the ICC are crucial to achieving this goal, particularly at a time when the Court faces a surge in threats to its independence, affecting its mandate as well as its very existence. The 13th CAP-ICC will therefore address the pivotal role that Parliamentarians play in this endeavor and explore the ways to support the ICC and its integrity through using parliamentarians’ legislative and political prerogatives.
Due to limited funding resources, we encourage you to explore alternative funding options through your respective parliaments and institutions or consider self-funding your participation. If you need assistance or have any questions regarding funding, please contact:
Ms. Olivia Houssais
International Law & Human Rights Program
Parliamentarians for Global Action
