On 22 and 23 April 2025, the First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court ("ICC"), Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala, visited Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, to meet with Norwegian and Swedish authorities.
First Vice-President Aitala met with Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr Espen Barth Eide and expressed the ICC's appreciation for Norway's principled support for the work of the Court and their continued commitment to uphold the rule of law. Minister Eide reaffirmed the importance of the International Criminal Court's role in upholding accountability for the world's most serious crimes and Norway's continuous efforts in promoting support to the Court.
Whilst in Oslo, the First Vice-President also had an open discussion with Mr Andreas Kravik, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. In presence of scholars and diplomats, they discussed the role and challenges of the ICC in today's geopolitical situation. The Vice-President also met with Mr Joakim Øren, State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of Norway with whom he discussed matters of international cooperation and outreach.
In Stockholm, the First Vice-President met with H.E. Ms Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who he thanked for the steady engagement of Sweden to strengthen the Rome Statute system, including through continuous support to the Trust Fund for Victims. Minister Malmer Stenergard reconfirmed the commitment of Sweden to ensure a robust international legal order and highlighted the importance of protecting the ICC's judicial independence.
In addition, the First Vice-President met with Directors of the Department for International Law and Human Rights of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm and with the National Prosecution Office for technical discussions related to the ICC's mandate and the conduct of complex judicial proceedings related to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
