The Nature and Purpose of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first permanent global court dedicated to prosecuting individuals for serious international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and, since 2018, the crime of aggression. Established under the Rome Statute in 1998, the ICC operates from The Hague, Netherlands, aiming to hold accountable those responsible for atrocities, especially when national systems fail to act. It complements national jurisdictions and functions as a last resort. The court's jurisdiction is limited to crimes committed after July 1, 2002, and involves the territory or nationals of member states or cases referred by the UN Security Council. The ICC executes its mandate through investigations initiated by member states, the UN Security Council, or the ICC Prosecutor, subject to judicial review. Over the years, it has issued arrest warrants for numerous figures, including leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Libya, and more recently, Russia and Israel. The court also emphasizes victims' participation, allowing them to engage in proceedings and seek reparations, ensuring fair trials rooted in both civil and common law traditions while fighting against impunity and promoting global justice.