It is my pleasure to report on the activities of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression, which met for the first time at the present session of the Assembly of States Parties, in accordance with resolution ICC-ASP/1/Res.1 on the continuity of work in respect of the crime of aggression. Under the terms of that resolution, the Special Working Group was opened on an equal footing to all States. Indeed, it was understood in the Group that the Assembly intended to extend such equality of treatment to all aspects of the Special Working Group's work, including the issuance of documentation, the making of statements and voting rights, but that the rules of procedure of the Assembly of States Parties would continue to apply mutatis mutandis.

Furthermore, in line with the Assembly's decision, made at the 8th meeting of its first session, held on 7 February this year, on the basis of a proposal by the Bureau, the Special Working Group held a total of three meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, 9 and 10 September, respectively. The Group took note of the Bureau's proposal that the Special Working Group should meet during annual sessions of the Assembly of States Parties, with two to three meetings of the Assembly to be allocated to it; as well as the earlier decision taken by the Assembly not to recommend, at that time, the holding of any intersessional meetings. There was a strong in view in the Special Working Group, however, that – given the complexity and the importance of the issue – the Group should be allocated more meeting time and benefit from more coherent meeting time. In addition, the view also prevailed that intersessional meetings would be most useful to advance the process the Working Group is engaged in – with the understanding that such intersessional meetings should be open-ended and all-inclusive, like the meetings of the Special Working Group itself. I will therefore engage in consultations with you, Mr. President, as well as other members of the Bureau on the question of arranging the meeting time of the Special Working Group in a more coherent manner and also continue my discussions with all interested parties on the possibility of holding intersessional meetings.