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Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), a permanent judicial organization was established for investigating, prosecuting, and trying those accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, as well as imposing jail sentences on those found guilty of approved the agreement. It also deals with grave crimes of all concerns. The ICC’s headquarters is located in The Hague. The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and prosecutes individuals suspected of the World’s most serious crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. A court of last resort’s function is to augment national courts rather than replace them. The ICC or the International Criminal Court is the first permanent international criminal court governed through an international treaty, the Rome statute.
What is the International Criminal Court?
The International Criminal Court (ICC ) is a multilateral institution and international tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the World’s first and only permanent international court with the authority to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. The International Criminal Court (ICC) employs approximately 900 people from over 100 nations and conducts proceedings in both English and French.
Ensuring universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons around the World is one of the United Nations’ key goals. Few issues in today’s World are more important than the fight against impunity and the struggle for peace, justice, and human rights in crisis circumstances. Creating an International criminal court (ICC) is viewed as a significant step forward.
Why is It Necessary to Establish an International Criminal Court?
The International Court of Justice in The Hague only hears matters involving countries, not individuals. Acts of genocide and gross breaches of human rights frequently go unpunished in the absence of an international criminal court to deal with individual accountability as an enforcement tool. There have been several crimes against humanity and war crimes in the previous 50 years for which no one has been held guilty. The Khmer Rouge slaughtered an estimated 2 million people in Cambodia in the 1970s. There has been a great loss of civilian life in armed wars in Mozambique, Liberia, El Salvador, and other countries, including offences against unarmed women and children.
What are Grave Crimes of Concern?
The Rome Statute gives the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction over four major crimes:
- Genocide
- Human Rights Violations
- Crimes of war
- Crime of Aggression.
In cases where genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes were committed on or after July 1, 2002, the Court may exercise jurisdiction.
The offences were committed by a State Party national, on State Party territory, or in a state that has recognised the Court’s jurisdiction.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) submitted the offences to the ICC Prosecutor due to a resolution passed under Chapter VII of the UN charter.
What are the benefits of supporting the International Criminal Court and the battle for global justice?
- It is an International Court for the Weak-willed – Victims of terrorism, violations of human rights, and war crimes demand justice and redress worldwide.
- It is a Final court Of Appeal – The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutes people for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. But only if governments do not take the initiative first.
- It provides a way to global peace – Serious crimes endanger the world’s peace, security, and well-being.
- It is a hopeful emblem – Millions of children, women, and men have been victims of unspeakable horrors throughout history. In the twentieth century alone, an estimated 200 million people died due to wars, massacres, and other forms of violence.
Conclusion
It has been reported that some of the most horrific acts occurred during the twentieth century’s battles. Sadly, many of these international law offences have gone unpunished. As the UN General Assembly debated the ICC Statute, the World watched as horrific crimes were committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The idea of a worldwide justice system reawakened following the end of the Cold War. In the early 1990s, the international community wanted a permanent court system to deal with international disputes. Rome was chosen for the conference, which founded the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to these events.
