Global Leaders Rally Behind International Anti-Corruption Court, Says Integrity Initiatives
posted 9th April 2025
Global Leaders Rally Behind International Anti-Corruption Court, Says Integrity Initiatives
London, 8 April 2025 – A growing movement to establish an International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC) has gained significant traction, with over 300 world leaders, including former Polish Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka, lending their support to the initiative.
The campaign, spearheaded by Integrity Initiatives International (III), aims to tackle the pervasive issue of grand corruption, which continues to undermine global development and justice.
In a recent post on X, Integrity Initiatives International highlighted Suchocka’s endorsement, quoting her as saying, “I am very happy that so many members of Club de Madrid – former Heads of State and Government – support the idea to create the International Anti-Corruption Court.” Suchocka, who served as Poland’s Prime Minister from 1992 to 1993 and is a member of Club de Madrid, has been a vocal advocate for the IACC.
She spoke at the 2022 World Justice Forum in The Hague, where she participated in a roundtable discussion titled Addressing the Enforcement Gap: Proposal for an International Anti-Corruption Court. The event, held at the Peace Palace, explored the need for such a court to combat grand corruption and discussed its operational framework, including issues like extraterritorial jurisdiction and head-of-state immunities.
The IACC is designed to prosecute corrupt leaders—often referred to as kleptocrats—who exploit their power for personal gain, evading justice due to their influence over national legal systems. A 2018 paper in Daedalus by Judge Mark L. Wolf underscored this challenge, noting that such leaders often operate with impunity. Integrity Initiatives International defines grand corruption as a major barrier to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, combating climate change, and promoting democracy and human rights worldwide.
The campaign has garnered widespread support since its inception. In 2016, Colombia became the first country to endorse the IACC, followed by Ecuador, Moldova, and Nigeria.
The European Parliament has also passed a resolution backing the court’s creation. By 2021, 125 leaders from 45 countries, including former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, signed a declaration drafted by III calling for the IACC’s establishment. Brown has publicly stated that the court could play a crucial role in holding figures like Vladimir Putin accountable for their actions.
Club de Madrid, a non-profit organisation comprising 126 members from 73 countries—including seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates—has been a key supporter of the initiative.
The organisation’s involvement has helped amplify the campaign’s global reach. In 2022, the World Refugee & Migration Council, a partner of III, launched the Canadian Task Force Against Global Corruption to further push for the IACC’s creation, marking another milestone in the campaign’s momentum.
The need for such a court has become increasingly urgent as corruption continues to erode progress on global challenges. According to Integrity Initiatives International, more than 300 world leaders from over 80 countries, including Nobel laureates, former heads of state, and representatives from civil society, business, and faith communities, now back the IACC. The initiative has also been integrated into Canadian and Dutch foreign policy, with both nations working alongside international partners to help establish the court.
As the world grapples with the far-reaching consequences of corruption, the proposed International Anti-Corruption Court offers a glimmer of hope for a more just and accountable global order.
