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How are ICC judges elected?

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  How the Court works? The crimes The Court's founding treaty, called the Rome Statute, grants the ICC jurisdiction over four main crimes. First, the crime of genocide is characterised by the specific intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group by killing its members or by other means: causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; or forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Second, the ICC can prosecute crimes against humanity, which are serious violations committed as part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population. The 15 forms of crimes against humanity listed in the Rome Statute include offences such as murder, rape, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, enslavement – particularly of women and childr...
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Judicial well-being matters for the quality of justice and public trust.

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Today, the  United Nations (UN)  General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 25 July as International Day for Judicial Well-Being. UN Office on Drugs & Crime
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Help the stakeholders within the justice system to perform at optimal levels.

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The success of the due administration of justice relies on the ability of key stakeholders within the justice system to perform at optimal levels. Unlike in the past, judges today face mounting challenges due to rapid advancements in technology, the pervasive influence of social media and the rise of artificial intelligence. In addition to these, judiciaries worldwide continue to grapple with numerous socio-economic, political, religious and context-specific challenges such as natural disasters, conflict situations and financial constraints. Despite these difficulties, judges must maintain their independence, impartiality, integrity and composure in the public eye. However, the toll this takes on them is rarely discussed in many parts of the world.
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Establish universal standards for judicial conduct, focusing on independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, and competence and diligence.

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The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct were introduced a few decades ago in response to the increasing challenges faced by the judiciaries and to further the objectives of Article 11 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption . These principles sought to establish universal standards for judicial conduct, focusing on independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, and competence and diligence. Later, a commentary was developed to provide further context to these six core principles. Notably, paragraph 194 of the commentary recognized judicial well-being as a critical factor that reinforces diligence and competence in the judicial role . This acknowledgment was a step forward, yet judicial well-being remained a taboo subject within many judicial circles. Over the last ten years, different jurisdictions such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean have gradually begun addressing judicial stress and other aspects affecting judicial well-being t...
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Exploring the link between judicial integrity and well-being.

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In 2021, the Global Judicial Integrity Network conducted a global survey exploring the link between judicial integrity and well-being. The results were striking: 69% of respondents believed that discussing mental health or stress remains a taboo topic for judges. 83% of participants felt that the level of support available within their judiciary was insufficient. 89% of respondents acknowledged knowing judicial colleagues who had experienced stress, sadness, or anxiety. Over time, studies conducted in various jurisdictions on judicial well-being , judicial conduct and judicial attitudes have revealed eye-opening findings. These figures highlight a systemic issue - one that, if left unaddressed, could have serious consequences on the quality of justice delivered.
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Advocating for the promotion of a balanced mind for judicial officers.

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Since 2014, we have been advocating for the promotion of a balanced mind for judicial officers. It was not a popular subject to talk about then. On one hand, judicial leaderships feared that openly discussing judicial stress could affect public perception. On the other, individual judges themselves hesitated to speak openly, fearing it might damage their reputation and professional recognition.
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Promoting judicial well-being.

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Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue universally, the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being was introduced to create awareness, acknowledge the problem and take concrete steps toward addressing it. Unlike other legal matters that may differently affect common law and civil law jurisdictions, judicial well-being is a universal concern - transcending legal systems, jurisdictions and other differences. Around 18 senior judicial leaders and experts from across the world, representing all continents, regions and various judicial organizations, came together to draft the Nauru Declaration, which establishes seven core principles aimed at promoting judicial well-being . This declaration is not just about individual judges - it is a matter of ensuring the delivery of quality justice. If judicial stress is ignored - if judges are overburdened, work under unconducive conditions or face persistent harassment, bullying, and deprivation of their rights - the consequences extend ...
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