President of UN General Assembly visits International Criminal Court
On 17 April 2026, Her Excellency Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, visited the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The visit was framed as a reaffirmation of UN support for the Court’s mandate to prosecute core international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
Purpose of the visit
During the visit, Baerbock met with ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane and First Vice‑President Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala to discuss the Court’s ongoing work, cooperation with the United Nations, and the importance of accountability for serious international crimes. The meeting also highlighted the role of the ICC as a court of last resort in complementing national justice systems, particularly in situations where states are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute grave crimes.
Context in UN–ICC relations
The visit comes amid an evolving political climate in which the ICC has faced both strong support from many States Parties and sharp criticism from a few, including the United States under President Trump’s administration. At the same time, the Court’s annual report to the UN General Assembly has noted that membership has expanded to 125 States Parties, underscoring growing endorsement of the Rome Statute system. By coming to the ICC in person, the UN General‑Assembly President signaled continuity in the UN’s formal linkage with the Court while gently pushing for wider adherence to international criminal‑law norms.
