The International Criminal Court

The ICC is a permanent international criminal tribunal that can try the most heinous international crimes. It was established after the Rome Summit in 1998 and entered into force on 1st July 2002 after sixty states ratified the Rome Statute.

The Rome Statute provides for the establishment of a permanent Court with the jurisdiction to try cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Previously, tribunals set up to prosecute such crimes were established after the crimes were committed and this meant that they had no deterrent value. It is a court with much greater jurisdiction over such crimes than the previous tribunals. However the court’s jurisdiction is not yet global (Access full discussion on jurisdiction )

The Rome Statute

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court enters into force in a country when that country formally ratifies, accepts, approves of or accedes to the Statute. Mere signature of the statute is not enough for the statute to enter into force in the signatory state. Once the Statute has entered into force in a country that country is known as a State Party.

• Full text of Rome Statute html. (Click on attachment below for Pdf version)
• Assembly of Ratified States Parties
• How to Appeal to the ICC
• ICC Website