PRESS RELEASE: THE COURT OF THE CITIZENS OF THE WORLD 

THE ECOCIDE TRIBUNAL

The Court of the Citizens of the World is a People’s Tribunal championing universal human rights

The Court of the Citizens of the World is an independent People’s Tribunal dedicated to advancing universal human rights and accountability under international law. The Court addresses grave violations where official judicial mechanisms lack jurisdiction, are unwilling to act, or are structurally incapable of responding to systemic crimes of global consequence.

By documenting evidence, hearing victims and expert testimony, and issuing reasoned judgments, the Court confronts impunity and preserves the historical and legal record of atrocities committed against peoples, ecosystems, and future generations.

The Court will hold its next People’s Tribunal in the form of an Ecocide tribunal at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin, from 16–19 February 2026, and will proceed in two distinct but legally connected parts: a civil trial addressing state responsibility under international environmental law, and criminal proceedings examining individual and collective liability for crimes against humanity arising from environmental destruction.

Part I – Civil Trial: Breach of the Paris Agreement
The Tribunal will examine violations of the Paris Agreement and related international environmental treaties arising from excessive greenhouse gas emissions, large-scale deforestation and the degradation of ecosystems essential for human and planetary survival.

Part II – Criminal Proceedings: Crimes Against Humanity and Ecocide
The Tribunal will consider whether systematic environmental destruction and the persecution of civilian populations constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, including forced displacement of Indigenous communities through deforestation, climate-induced suffering and death caused by droughts, floods, and extreme heatwaves, toxic pollution and major industrial environmental disasters, and the destruction of Indigenous rights, ancestral lands, and traditional livelihoods. The Tribunal will also examine whether such environmental destruction could constitute ecocide under the international definition proposed for its recognition as a new crime in the Rome Statute.

The Court, inaugurated under the patronage of Nuremberg Prosecutor and Congressional Gold Medal recipient, the late Ben Ferencz and is under the current patronage of Nobel peace prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, addresses the growing global demand for international accountability for political and military leaders who flout human rights with impunity and evade timely and meaningful justice efforts. The Court is based on principles of individual responsibility for crimes as defined by the Nuremberg trials and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. 

The first session of The Court of the Citizens of the World was held in The Hague in February 2023, addressing the Crime of Aggression committed by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine. On February 24, 2023, the Panel of Judges issued a historic judgment. Remarkably, just three weeks later, the International Criminal Court issued an official arrest warrant against Putin for his role in the abduction of children. At the time, Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk stated: “The Citizens’ Court has motivated international courts to take action." the-court.eu 

Global citizens will be able to follow the trial via the Court’s official website (https://www.the-court.eu/) 

ACCREDITATION

The Court extends a cordial invitation to NGOs and media outlets to actively participate in our proceedings. We welcome you to contribute and record valuable evidence, offer support to victims and witnesses, and establish collaborative partnerships with us. The Court recognizes the vital role media and NGOs can play in promoting justice and accountability. Additionally, we extend a special invitation to victims and witnesses, urging them to join and actively participate in the court proceedings. Furthermore, the public is invited to engage with us and provide input on how they wish to participate and contribute to the court process. For inquiries and collaboration, please contact: communication@the-court.eu.

The media may seek accreditation and interview opportunities by contacting media@the-court.eu. Your email should include the following information: name, position, type of media, and contact information. Additionally, please indicate whether you would like to request interviews with court participants, including judges, prosecutors, defense, individuals with experience in international courts, as well as victims and witnesses.