What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent court located in The Hague, Netherlands, and established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, an international agreement that states have agreed to abide by. The ICC has the jurisdiction to investigate, prosecute, and punish individuals alleged to have committed the most serious violations of international law, including war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The ICC is composed of an independent and impartial panel of judges, lawyers and other professionals that receive reports of crimes occurring in any state party to the Rome Statute. The ICC then decides to investigate the matter or not, depending on the seriousness of the alleged crime. If the ICC decides to proceed with an investigation, they will then proceed with indictments and trial proceedings. The ICC is unique in that it is the only permanent international criminal court that has the jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute individuals from all over the world, regardless of their nationality, without interference from their respective governments. It is also the only court that has the power to investigate and prosecute individuals for crimes against humanity, regardless of the location of the crime. This makes the ICC an important tool in the fight against impunity and a way to ensure accountability for international crimes.

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What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

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