What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent tribunal that is based in the Netherlands. The tribunal was established in 1998 and is an international judicial body that has the power to prosecute individuals for the most serious crimes of international concern (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, aggression). The ICC does not replace the national criminal justice systems, but works with them to ensure that more cases of serious international criminal law violations are brought to justice. The ICC is able to investigate and prosecute crimes committed in countries that have ratified the ICC treaty. Unfortunately, the United States and Alaska are not among the countries that have ratified the ICC treaty. This means that the ICC has no jurisdiction or power to prosecute individuals within the United States or Alaska. However, the ICC has begun to play an important role in bringing those responsible for serious international crimes to justice. For example, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for those responsible for serious crimes in Sudan and Libya. The ICC has also investigated and held individuals accountable for international war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Overall, the ICC represents a major step forward in international justice as it serves as a reminder that those who commit serious international crimes will be held accountable.

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What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

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