An Overview Of The Court

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The International Criminal Court: A Milestone in International Justice

An Overview of the Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) stands as the world's first permanent international criminal tribunal. Established in 1998, the ICC has jurisdiction over individuals accused of serious international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Foundation and Jurisdiction

The ICC was established through the Rome Statute, which was adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2002. As of 2022, 123 states are parties to the Rome Statute, demonstrating the broad international support for the Court.

The ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed by nationals of or on the territory of states that are parties to the Rome Statute. Additionally, the United Nations Security Council can refer situations to the ICC, allowing the Court to investigate crimes in non-party states.

Key Cases

Over the course of its history, the ICC has investigated and prosecuted several high-profile cases involving individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

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