The
International Criminal Court, also known as the
ICC, is the first permanent, treaty based, global criminal court
established to promote the rule of law and ensure that the most horrific
international crimes do not go unpunished.
On July 17, 1998, the Rome Statute was established. The 63-page document
is officially known as the Rome Statute
of the International Criminal Court. The Statute describes
the Court's jurisdiction, structure, and functions. The Statute
provides for its entry into force 60 days after 60 States
have ratified or acceded to it. The 60th instrument of ratification
was deposited with the Secretary General on April 11, 2002, when
10 countries simultaneously deposited their instruments of ratification.
The 120 States
that participated in the "United
Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment
of an International Criminal Court" adopted the Statute, and
the Court was activated on July 1, 2002. Anyone who commits any of
the crimes under the Statute after this date will be liable for prosecution
by the Court.
The International
Criminal Court has jurisdiction in all countries that have agreed
to abide by the terms of the Rome Statute, and over all adults
who have committed a crime of serious concern to the international
community. The ICC is
complementary to national criminal jurisdictions. The jurisdiction
and functioning of the ICC are governed by the provisions
of the Rome Statute.
Kofi
Annan, UN Secretary-General
"In
the prospect of an international criminal court lies the
promise of universal justice. That is the simple and
soaring hope of this vision. We are close to its realization.
We will do our part to see it through till the end. We ask you
. .
. to do yours in our struggle to ensure that no ruler, no State,
no
junta and no army anywhere can abuse human rights with impunity.
Only then will the innocents of distant wars and conflicts
know that they, too, may sleep under the cover of justice; that
they,
too,
have rights, and that those who violate those rights will be
punished."
-
Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General
