The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) welcomes the decision of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to relocate the 25th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP25) from New York to The Hague.
The Bureau decided on 28 September 2026 that ASP25, originally scheduled to take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York, will be relocated to The Hague from 30 November to 7 December 2026.
The decision follows months of advocacy by civil society organisations, raising serious concerns about limitations on participation arising from holding the session in New York, including the visa restrictions for those targeted by unlawful US sanctions, restrictions based on country of origin and the broader chilling effect recent attacks against the Court has created. Those affected by sanctions, including ICC officials, a judicial candidate, and the three Palestinian human rights organisations, Al-Haq, Al Mezan and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), would have been barred from travelling to the US for the session. Furthermore, the broader visa restrictions would affect access by representatives of non-governmental organisations from the global south.
