International Criminal Court

What is the International Criminal Court?

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal seated in The Hague, Netherlands. It investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

History of the ICC

The ICC was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on July 17, 1998. The statute entered into force on July 1, 2002, and the ICC began its operations on that date.

Jurisdiction of the ICC

The ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed by nationals of states that have ratified the Rome Statute, or that have accepted the jurisdiction of the Court. The ICC also has jurisdiction over crimes that are committed on the territory of states that have ratified the Rome Statute.

Proceedings of the ICC

The proceedings of the ICC are divided into two phases: the pre-trial phase and the trial phase. In the pre-trial phase, the ICC investigates the alleged crimes and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. In the trial phase, the ICC hears the evidence against the accused and decides whether the accused is guilty of the alleged crimes.