The Court shall maintain an administrative structure sufficient to support the independent and effective administration of justice.
The Court shall operate primarily through secure digital and remote systems where reasonably practicable.
The Court shall not be required to maintain a permanent central headquarters or extensive physical infrastructure.
Judges, prosecutors, investigators, defence representatives, administrative personnel, experts, interpreters, and other authorised participants may perform their functions remotely from different countries, subject to the security and procedural requirements of the Court.
The Court may establish regional, national, or temporary offices where necessary for investigations, hearings, evidence collection, victim support, witness protection, enforcement, or other judicial functions.
Any physical offices established by the Court shall be proportionate to its operational needs and available financial resources.
The Court may use secure digital systems for: a. filing applications and complaints; b. issuing and receiving judicial documents; c. communicating with States Parties; d. conducting hearings and trials; e. storing and examining evidence; f. maintaining case files; g. communicating with victims, witnesses, prosecutors, defence representatives, and other participants; h. maintaining warrants and judicial orders; i. managing financial and administrative records; and j. other lawful Court functions.
The Court shall maintain appropriate safeguards for cybersecurity, authentication, access control, confidentiality, evidence integrity, and protection against unauthorised interference.
The Court may establish secure digital identity and authentication systems for judges, prosecutors, investigators, lawyers, witnesses, victims, experts, interpreters, State authorities, and other authorised users.
The Court shall maintain reliable records of proceedings, decisions, evidence, warrants, judgments, sentences, and other official documents.
Digital records shall be protected against unauthorised alteration, destruction, deletion, or interference.
Where technically practicable, important Court records shall be securely backed up in more than one location or jurisdiction to reduce the risk of loss.
The Court may use secure cloud, distributed, encrypted, or other appropriate technology for the storage and protection of Court records.
The Court shall establish procedures for verifying the identity of participants appearing remotely.
The Court may require participants to appear from secure locations where necessary to protect proceedings, evidence, witnesses, or other persons.
The Court may temporarily suspend or relocate remote proceedings where a serious technical, security, or operational problem prevents a fair proceeding.
Technical difficulties shall not be used deliberately to obstruct or delay justice.
The Court may provide reasonable technical assistance to participants who lack the equipment or connectivity necessary to participate effectively in proceedings.
The Court may establish minimum technical standards for video, audio, document transmission, evidence presentation, recording, and secure communication.
The Court may permit authorised personnel to use their own suitable equipment for remote work where the equipment meets the Court's security requirements.
The Court shall seek to minimise unnecessary travel and accommodation costs by using remote participation wherever it can provide an equivalent and fair means of participation.
Administrative personnel may be distributed across different countries and may work on a rotating, part-time, voluntary, or contract basis where appropriate and lawful.
The Court may use volunteers, interns, contracted specialists, and other contributors where appropriate, provided that their duties, confidentiality obligations, qualifications, and accountability are clearly established.
No volunteer, contractor, or external contributor shall exercise judicial or prosecutorial authority unless formally appointed to an office that lawfully carries such authority under this Treaty.
The Court may establish specialist administrative teams for technology, cybersecurity, finance, translation, evidence management, communications, victim support, and other necessary functions.
The Court shall maintain continuity arrangements to ensure that essential judicial functions can continue during serious technical failures, cyberattacks, natural disasters, armed conflict, or other emergencies.
The Court may establish alternative secure communication and hearing systems where its primary systems become unavailable.
The Court shall publish appropriate information concerning its administrative structure, official contact methods, and procedures so that members of the public can communicate with the Court.
The Court shall seek to maintain public accessibility while protecting confidential information and the security of judicial operations.
The Court's administration shall remain subordinate to the independent judicial, prosecutorial, investigative, and enforcement functions established by this Treaty.
Administrative personnel shall not interfere with judicial or prosecutorial decisions.
The Rules of the Court shall establish detailed procedures concerning remote operations, cybersecurity, digital records, technical standards, administrative personnel, continuity arrangements, volunteers, contractors, and physical facilities.