The 2024 edition of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor's (OTP) Annual Report "The Law in Action for All" provides an in-depth overview of its activities in the last year, and steps taken towards implementing the Office's Strategic Plan for 2023-2025.
The Report highlights key developments that have shaped the year, and outlines strategic initiatives to achieve the Office's mandate of ensuring justice and accountability for crimes under the Court's jurisdiction independently, impartially and effectively.
Key highlights of the 2024 Annual Report include:
Increased impact in investigations and prosecutions:
- Key figures: 12 ongoing investigations and 3 ongoing preliminary examinations.
- Significant developments in various situations: Summaries of the current status of investigations across situations.
- Record number of applications for arrest warrants: 30 current outstanding warrants of arrest known to the public, including 18 warrants resulting from applications in the last three years.
-
Substantial increase in submissions and communications:
- The Office received 74,803 submissions, including more than 400,000 electronic files through its secure evidence submission platform OTP Link.
- Among these are 15,404 communications pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute.
Adapting and strengthening the operational efficiency of the Office:
- The Office undertook significant steps to enhance digital capabilities for investigations, and to streamline management processes and coordination to respond swiftly to complex cases.
- The establishment of a new Tracking and Information Fusion Section strengthens the Office's ability to support the Court in securing arrests to lead to trials, and to provide enhanced technical analysis.
- A renewed and consolidated internal Operations Manual is aimed at supporting rapid and consistent implementation of policy and strategic decisions across the Office.
Behind the scenes: the essential functions of the Office:
The OTP benefits from the services of approximately 400 dedicated personnel of over 90 different nationalities. A diverse array of professionals working behind the scenes forms the backbone of the Office's work at every step of the preliminary examination, investigation and prosecution process, and operational and support functions in fulfilling its mandate:
Advanced global policy expertise:
In the past year, the Office continued to renew its policy framework:
- In December 2023, the Office launched its renewed Policy on Gender-Based Crimes at the Assembly of States Parties, underscoring its efforts concerning all gender-based crimes (crimes involving sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence).
- In December 2023, the renewed Policy on Children was launched, emphasising the Office's commitment to establishing an institutional environment that facilitates the effective investigation and prosecution of crimes against and affecting children.
- In April 2024, the Policy on Complementarity and Cooperation was published. It seeks to position the Office not only as an effective prosecutorial body but also as a central hub for accountability efforts and a reliable partner to national authorities. The Report reflects on several complementarity highlights illustrating where collaborative efforts with national jurisdictions and other partners have led to tangible progress in delivering accountability for serious crimes of international concern.
- A new Policy on Slavery Crimes was drafted throughout the reporting period and was formally launched in December 2024, guiding the Office in adopting survivor-centred, trauma-informed, gender-competent, child-competent, and intersectional approaches in addressing slavery crimes.
"This year's report shows that the mandate and work of my Office remain clear and unwavering: to hold accountable those who commit the gravest crimes," said ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC. "My Office is determined to live up to the profound responsibility it bears to strive for justice on behalf of victims all over the world, irrespective of race, religion, or politics."
In the upcoming year, the Office will continue to pursue effective and impactful investigations and litigation with trial judgments in several cases to be expected. Further policies in the year 2025, including on environmental crimes and cyber-enabled crimes, will underline the relevance of the Rome Statute in helping ensure a more just world.
Watch the OTP Annual Report 2024 video here.
