ICC: All arrest warrant filings must now be kept 'secret'

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has revised its court regulations to mandate that all applications for arrest warrants be classified as either “under seal” or “secret”.

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The tribunal began implementing the amended Regulations of the Court on November 10, adding a subsection to Regulation 23—which covers documents filed—to make applications for arrest warrants automatically confidential.

“The amendment standardises the existing practice of Pre-Trial Chambers instructing the Prosecution to file applications pursuant to article 58 of the Statute confidentially,” the ICC said in a statement.

The new rule under “Regulation 23 ter” sets out three conditions. First, any application for a warrant of arrest or a summons to appear under Article 58 of the Rome Statute must be filed privately and classified as “secret” or “under seal.”

Second, any related filings, such as amendments to the arrest warrant application, must also be submitted in the same manner.