ICC (International Criminal Court )
On August 18, 2025, the International School Network visited the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to interview the President, Ms. Tomoko Akane.
Ms. AKANE acknowledged the challenge of staying informed in a world of social media and echo chambers. To maintain a balanced perspective, she explained that she gathers information and opinions from as many sources as possible and discusses them with her colleagues. Her advice for young people is to avoid relying on a single viewpoint. "Read as many as possible, not to choose one direction, but the other directions as well," she advised. She also emphasized the importance of discussing complex issues with friends and mentors, and ultimately, to think for yourself.
Ms. AKANE described the ICC's ultimate goal as being more than a judicial body. While its immediate function is to "bring justice based on the evidence," she sees its broader mission as setting a positive example for global society. She hopes the court's work will inspire people to seek justice within their own countries and contribute to a more peaceful world. Regarding the court's deterrent effect, she noted that the ICC is working to counter non-cooperation from some states. In addition to public outreach, she personally engages with state officials to explain the court's work. She also highlighted the need for countries like Japan to update their legal systems to prosecute international crimes, which would reinforce the ICC's principle of complementarity, in which the court steps in only when national systems are unwilling or unable to act.
Ms. AKANE is currently facing significant challenges, including a recent backlash following the issuance of arrest warrants against leaders involved in conflicts. On August 20, new sanctions were added, bringing the total number of sanctioned individuals to nine, including the top three officials in the Office of the Prosecutor and six judges. This situation is significantly impacting their work and personal lives, forcing the court to scramble to respond. "We are currently in a situation where we're doing everything we can just to survive," Ms. AKANE stated. "But I believe we must not lose hope and see this through to the very end."
When asked about her personal values, Ms. AKANE shared that her time at the ICC has broadened her perspective, teaching her that no single legal system is perfect. She finds encouragement in her colleagues and maintains a sense of optimism even when faced with difficulties. Her final piece of advice for students was both classic and crucial: read books. In an age of digital information, she stressed that reading allows for deeper thought and a broader understanding of the world. "To read the books, make yourself think deeper," she concluded.
ICC (International Criminal Court )
On August 20th, 2024, the International School Network hosted a special lecture and Q&A with Ms. Tomoko AKANE, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The event, attended by approximately 20 students, provided a rare opportunity to engage directly with a leading figure in international justice. Ms. AKANE, the first female President of the ICC and a Japanese national, shared her insights on the court’s critical mission and the challenges it faces, while also offering a powerful message of encouragement to the next generation of global citizens.
Ms. AKANE began by explaining the fundamental nature of the ICC. The court was established by the Rome Statute, a treaty that officially came into force in 2002. Unlike other international courts, the ICC is not a UN court but a permanent judicial body constituted by the countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. Its primary mission is to end impunity for the "most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole." These core crimes, fall into four categories: Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes, and The Crime of Aggression.
Ms. AKANE clarified that the ICC does not handle all international crimes, such as human trafficking or terrorism, unless they are committed as part of a war crime. She also highlighted the principle of complementarity, which dictates that the ICC does not act as a court superior to national courts. Instead, it serves as a complementary court, stepping in only when national courts are unwilling or unable to genuinely carry out investigations or prosecutions. This is particularly relevant in situations where a country's judicial system has collapsed due to war or internal strife.
Ms. AKANE discussed the current crisis threatening ICC’s existence. Following the arrest warrants issued against leaders involved in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, there has been a powerful backlash. It has sparked a movement in the United States to impose sanctions on the ICC. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed a sanctions bill, and while it still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by the President, Ms. AKANE stresses the danger it poses. If enacted, the sanctions would treat the ICC like a state sponsor of terrorism, freezing its assets, stopping transactions with corporations, and halting all its activities. This may force the immediate release of all suspects in custody and leave victims, witnesses, and the ICC's nearly 1,000 employees from 90 countries without protection or resources. Ms. AKANE characterized this threat as an attempt by a powerful, non-member state to undermine the court's authority and silence it. She explained that the court and its judges are committed to fulfilling their mission regardless of political pressure.
She also raised the issue of Japan's limited presence within the ICC itself. With only about 10 Japanese employees among nearly 1,000, she feels the Japanese voice is underrepresented. This lack of diversity, particularly in leadership roles, is something she hopes will change.
Ms. AKANE also mentioned that Japan has not joined the Genocide Convention, nor has it enacted domestic laws to prosecute core crimes. She acknowledged that Japan contributes significantly to international aid through organizations like JICA, but emphasized the need for a stronger legal and political presence in international justice. She encouraged young people to think about how they can contribute to global equality and the rule of law, whether at home or abroad. She encourages the next generation to engage with these complex issues and help ensure a future where international law, not the law of the strong, prevails. Her hope is that more Japanese citizens will consider working in international organizations like the ICC, bringing their unique perspectives to the global stage.
ICC (International Criminal Court )
On Friday, August 23rd, 2019, the International School Network visited the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. When we arrived at the ICC, Judge (Ms.) Akane Tomoko met us at the entrance and took us inside through strict security. Firstly, we listened to a presentation about the ICC and then went on a tour of the building. We were able to see the hearing room from the visitors' view.
The International Criminal Court was established 16 years ago. Its location in the Hague symbolizes peace and the center of justice. As an international judicial institution, elections of the judges take into account diverse cultures, and this year, they will elect a new prosecutor.
The building of the ICC is very modern and protected by a high-security system. Photos are prohibited indoors, and the whole building is fireproof and surrounded by high walls and water. We visited the hearing room from the other side of a bulletproof and fireproof glass wall. The judges' seats are equipped with computers so they can all look through evidence and related documents during the trial.
The ICC is working to investigate countries that are: in conflict, recovering, and politically unstable. The ICC tackles crimes that are widespread, against and attacking humanity, and a genocide. It is worth noting the difference between the ICC and the International Court of Justice (ICJ)- The ICC punishes people, while the ICJ settles arguments between countries.
There are about 4 to 5 trials per year. Trials at the ICC takes months and even years. Cases of the ICC can take up to 7 to 9 years because of its scope- each has about 5000 victims. Many challenges come with such a large scale investigation, including case selection. The ICC aspires to prevent as many crimes as possible, so they must choose incidents that are especially widespread and urgent. Also, trials can only be made against a physical person and not an organization. It is, therefore, a complicated matter when dealing with organized crimes.
Furthermore, the process is vast and disruptive to the lives of many people. There are challenges in protecting witnesses and catching people, especially because the ICC does not go to the crime scenes. It is costly and dangerous to fly victims and witnesses to the Hague, but also essential to reduce the reliance on oral testimony. There must be a balance when choosing incidents that are effectively focused and representative so that trials can be made as quickly and objectively as possible.
Investigations can be started or authorized by the state party, the UN Security Council, or jurisdiction, which is then checked by the Pre-Trial Chamber. However, the ICC does not operate under universal jurisdiction. There are many boxes to be ticked before the ICC can work on a case. For example, Syria is not part of the court; hence there must be complicated referrals to work on related investigations in the country. Another example of a filed but not yet implemented investigation includes the displaced people of Myanmar in Bangladesh. Because it is not legal to investigate in Myanmar, the ICC would need to find new ways to tackle the problem. Examples of other situations include that of Afghanistan (a long preliminary investigation), an arrest warrant in Sudan, and the prosecution of a president from Kenya, who was not found guilty due to a lack of evidence. Nevertheless, each topic is very controversial due to its many challenges, including resource administration and cooperation difficulties.
We interviewed Ms. Akane Tomoko at her office and then had lunch together at the cafeteria of the ICC.
Ms. Akane Tomoko explained to us her role at the ICC as one of the 18 judges. In her Division, Pre-Trial Chamber II, there are three judges: Ms. Tomoko Akane and two judges from Italy and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ms. Akane notes that her work is very challenging, including the aspect of language; Discussions are in English, but there are many documents written in French, which she has to translate.
They are working on a Central African case now in which two defendants from Central Africa are detained in the detention in the Hague. They are dealing with the situation in the pre-trials to decide if the charges are confirmed.
She demonstrated that in brief, the process of the pre-trial is made by confirming the situation and then investigating the suspect-targeted case, by teams of three judges from each chamber along with legal officers from various backgrounds. After the confirmation hearing, six judges undergo the trial. The whole process is very confidential until the decision is made.
Ms. Akane explained to us about her life working as a judge at the ICC. The ICC has no fixed work times, although usually, office hours are from 8 to 5:30. Ms. Akane noted that this depends heavily on the workload at the given time. The judges have to be alert 24 hours a day and even on holidays. The ICC has very few Japanese staff, 12~14, of which some are temporary. Ms. Akane noted that she misses Japan and Japanese food. Not only is it hard to find Japanese cuisine like udon in the Hague, but she also stated that it is even hard to find rice. She misses Japanese food, including natto, tofu, miso, soba, and especially udon.
Ms. Tomoko Akane expressed her wishes of welcoming young Japanese people to visit the ICC. She wishes that more Japanese people can actively join and be curious about international settings. She aspires Japanese people not to be afraid to ask questions and to step outside of the Japanese environment.
(by Madoka & Karen Nishina)
