International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first permanent international court established on a contractual basis to help end impunity for numerous serious crimes committed in the 21st century.

The ICC is independent in relation to the UN
The seat of the Court is the Hague
Although its expenses are covered mainly by assessed contributions from participating States, it can also accept voluntary contributions from governments, international organizations, individuals, corporations and other entities.

In July 1998, in Rome, 120 UN member States adopted the Rome Statute, which became the legal basis for the establishment of a permanent international criminal court.
The Rome Statute entered into force on July 1, 2002, after 60 States had ratified it.

The legal status and powers of the Court
The Court has an international legal personality. He also has such legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of his functions and the achievement of his goals. The Court may exercise its functions and powers, as provided for in the Rome Statute, in the territory of any State Party and, by special agreement, in the territory of any other State.

The International Criminal Court considers legal issues:
the crime of genocide;
crimes against humanity;
war crimes; d) the crime of aggression
crimes against justice (article 70 of the Statute)

Structure and composition of the Court
Presidium
Divisions and chambers of the Court
The Office of the Prosecutor
Secretariat

Presidium
Composition: Chairman, First and Second Vice-Chairmen.
Term: 3 years
Functions: performs the current management of Court cases; coordinates activities with the Prosecutor; performs other functions related to the work of the Court.

Divisions and chambers of the Court
Appellate
Judicial
Pre-Trial Division.

The Office of the Prosecutor
An independent body of the ICC;
Function: carrying out criminal prosecution of persons responsible for crimes and bringing charges against them.
Appointed by the Assembly of State Parties
Term: nine years

Secretariat
Secretariat responsible for non-judicial aspects of case management and court service.
It is headed by a secretary who is elected by the judges for a five-year term.

Judges
Composition – 18 people
Term – 9 years
Regional groups: Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America.
There are at least 2 judges from each group

Procedure for initiating cases
The State party submits to the Prosecutor of the Court a certain situation;
The UN Security Council transmits some situation;
The ICC Prosecutor initiates an investigation on his own initiative.

Participating States
122 States are parties to the International Criminal Court. Of these, 34 are African states, 18 are located in the Asia-Pacific region, 18 in Eastern Europe, 27 in Latin America, 25 in Western Europe and other regions