From Proposal to Practice: The Evolution of the International Anti-Corruption Court Movement

Abstract

This practitioner essay examines the evolution of the movement to establish an International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC) as a response to persistent gaps in the global enforcement of grand corruption. While the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) provides comprehensive normative standards, enforcement remains constrained where political elites control domestic investigative and prosecutorial institutions. Drawing on an interview with Justice Richard Goldstone, Chair Emeritus of the IACC Treaty Committee, together with analysis of the evolving treaty development process, the paper traces how the proposal has matured through engagement with governments, legal experts and civil society. It examines how critiques concerning sovereignty, political legitimacy, complementarity, selective international justice and enforcement have informed successive iterations of the proposed court. Attention is given to the court’s expanding focus on asset recovery, professional enablers and African participation in treaty development as mechanisms to strengthen legitimacy and effectiveness. The current study argues that the significance of the IACC lies not only in its proposed jurisdiction, but also in its evolution through inclusive consultation and institutional learning. It concludes that sustainable international accountability depends upon credible institutions, political legitimacy and broad civil society ownership.