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The International Criminal Court (ICC) brings to trial those who commit large-scale political crimes – genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Building on the UN's special tribunals and on new legal precedents of universal jurisdiction, the ICC takes an important step towards global accountability for all, including political and military leaders.
Established in July 2002, the Court faces difficult challenges. Will US opposition and non-involvement seriously weaken the Court? Will the Court become a political tool used by the rich countries to bully leaders of poor nations and rally domestic public opinion around holier-than-thou propaganda? Will disputes between national courts and ICC jurisdiction create a legal gridlock? And will the ICC have sufficient independence to dispense justice in a reasonably fair and even-handed way? Even if the answers to these questions cannot be unequivocally positive, the new Court offers progress towards the long-held ideal of global justice.
This section provides an overview of the International Criminal Court, including key documents, articles, and analysis on the Court's purpose, its principles, and jurisdiction. The page also includes discussion on the challenges facing the ICC.
This page covers cases brought before the International Criminal Court, including investigations in the Democratic Republic of Congo,Uganda, the Darfur region of Sudan and the Central African Republic.
This section explores the relationship between the ICC and the Security Council. Under the ICC's Rome Statute, the Security Council has the power to trigger action by the Court and to obstruct prosecutions. But the ICC has proven to be a powerful force affecting the Council's agenda as well: the US repeatedly disrupted the Council's operations by abusing its veto in order to demonstrate objections to the Court.
This section explores the relationship between the ICC and the Security Council. Under the ICC's Rome Statute, the Security Council has the power to trigger action by the Court and to obstruct prosecutions. But the ICC has proven to be a powerful force affecting the Council's agenda as well: the US repeatedly disrupted the Council's operations by abusing its veto in order to demonstrate objections to the Court.
The United States government has consistently opposed an international court that could hold US military and political leaders to a uniform global standard of justice. Unable to secure protection from ICC prosecution, Washington began to pressure individual coutries to sign bilateral immunity agreements.
The NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court (CICC) played an influential role in the establishment of the Court. The CICC now includes over 2,000 NGOs worldwide, united in their support for a fair and effective International Criminal Court.
This section contains links and resources to other sites and organizations that cover the International Criminal Court.
