International Criminal Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
International Criminal Court
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 Official logo
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Countries that are part of the International Criminal Court
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| Seat | The Hague, Netherlands |
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| Member countries | 125 (Oct 2024) |
| Leaders | |
| Tomoko Akane | |
| Rosario Salvatore Aitala | |
| Reine Alapini-Gansou | |
| Establishment | |
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• Rome Statute adopted
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17 July 1998 |
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• Entered into force
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1 July 2002 |
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Website
www.icc-cpi.int |
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a special court located in The Hague, Netherlands. It was created in 2002 to investigate and try individuals accused of the most serious crimes that concern the whole world. These crimes include genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
The ICC is a "court of last resort." This means it only steps in when a country's own courts are unable or unwilling to handle a case. It is different from the International Court of Justice, which settles disagreements between countries, not individuals.
The court can investigate cases if the person accused is from a member country, if the crime happened in a member country, or if the United Nations Security Council asks it to. As of 2024, 125 countries are members. However, some large countries like China, India, Russia, and the United States are not members and do not accept the court's authority.
The ICC's prosecutor has investigated many situations and has issued arrest warrants for several people, including heads of state. For example, the court issued warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin related to the conflict in Ukraine, and for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of Hamas related to the war in Gaza.
Contents
History of the Court
Early Ideas for a World Court
The idea of a world court to try leaders for major crimes is not new. It was first suggested after World War I at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. The idea came up again in 1937 but didn't go anywhere.
After World War II, the winning countries set up special courts to prosecute leaders from Germany and Japan for war crimes. The most famous of these were the Nuremberg Trials. These events made many people believe a permanent court was needed. However, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union made it politically difficult to create one.
How the ICC Was Created
In 1989, the idea for a permanent international court was brought up again. The United Nations began working on a plan. In the 1990s, the UN created temporary courts for the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. This showed how important a permanent court would be.
Finally, in 1998, countries met in Rome to create a treaty for the court. This treaty is called the Rome Statute. It was approved by a vote of 120 to 7. The seven countries that voted against it were China, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Qatar, the U.S., and Yemen.
The Rome Statute officially came into effect on July 1, 2002, after 60 countries had approved it. This is the date the International Criminal Court was officially born. The first 18 judges were elected in 2003.
How the Court is Organized
The ICC has four main parts that work together: the Presidency, the Judicial Divisions, the Office of the Prosecutor, and the Registry.
- The Presidency is made up of three judges, including the President, who manage the court's daily work.
- The Judicial Divisions are the groups of 18 judges who hear cases and make decisions.
- The Office of the Prosecutor is led by the Prosecutor. This office investigates crimes and decides who to charge.
- The Registry handles all the administrative tasks, like managing the court building and helping witnesses.
The court employs over 900 people from about 100 different countries. The official working languages are English and French.
How the Court Works
The ICC can only act when certain conditions are met. It is designed to support, not replace, a country's own legal system. The court only has jurisdiction (the authority to act) when a country's own courts cannot or will not prosecute a serious crime.
The court can investigate crimes committed by people from member countries or crimes that happened on the territory of a member country. The United Nations Security Council can also ask the court to investigate a situation in any country.
Famous Cases
The court has investigated many situations around the world. It has charged dozens of people, including rebel leaders and government officials.
- The first person ever convicted by the ICC was Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, a warlord from Congo. In 2012, he was found guilty of using child soldiers in his army.
- In 2023, the court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for actions related to the conflict in Ukraine.
- In 2024, the chief prosecutor announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of Hamas for their actions in the Gaza war. Warrants for Netanyahu and others were issued later that year.
- In 2025, the court issued arrest warrants for leaders of the Taliban in Afghanistan for their treatment of women and girls.
What Crimes Can the ICC Prosecute?
The ICC can only prosecute four main types of very serious crimes. These are defined in the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the court.
Genocide
Genocide is the crime of trying to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. This can include killing members of the group or taking actions to prevent them from having children.
Crimes Against Humanity
Crimes against humanity are serious, widespread attacks against any civilian population. This includes acts like murder, enslavement, torture, and forcing people from their homes.
War Crimes
War crimes are serious violations of the laws of war, which are based on the Geneva Conventions. These crimes include attacking civilians, taking hostages, and using child soldiers.
Crime of Aggression
The crime of aggression is the act of a country's leader planning or starting an unjust war against another country. The court was given the power to prosecute this crime in 2018.
How a Case Starts
A case can be brought to the ICC in three ways:
- A member country can ask the prosecutor to investigate a situation.
- The United Nations Security Council can ask the prosecutor to investigate.
- The prosecutor can start an investigation based on information from other sources, like individuals or organizations.
Before starting a full investigation, the prosecutor must have a good reason to believe a crime under the court's jurisdiction was committed. The court will only take a case if the country involved is not already investigating or prosecuting it fairly. This is called the principle of complementarity.
Rights of the Accused and Victims
The ICC protects the rights of everyone involved in a case.
Rights of the Accused
Anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty. They have the right to a fair and speedy trial, the right to a lawyer, and the right to question the evidence against them.
Victim Participation
For the first time in an international court, victims can participate in the proceedings. They can share their views and observations with the judges. The court also has a special unit to protect and support victims and witnesses. Victims may also receive reparations, such as money or other forms of help, if the person accused is found guilty.
Images for kids
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Song Sang-hyun was President of the Court from 2009 to 2015.
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ICC prosecutors Fatou Bensouda and Luis Moreno Ocampo, with Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Urmas Paet, in 2012.
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The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir of Sudan over alleged war crimes in Darfur.
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The UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC in 2005.
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The International Criminal Court building in The Hague.
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Headquarters of the ICC, 2020.
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The former (provisional) headquarters of the ICC, in use until December 2015.
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See also
In Spanish: Corte Penal Internacional para niños
- Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court
- Legal Tools (database on International Criminal Law)
- List of people indicted in the International Criminal Court
