It’s an organization born out of the desire to create justice on a global scale. 

This court investigates and prosecutes people accused of having committed or ordered very serious crimes. 

These crimes are war crimes, crimes of aggression, crimes against humanity and genocide.

No criminal, whether a president, military officer, leader or simple citizen, is immune from prosecution.

In order to bring justice to the victims of crimes, anyone can be held accountable for their actions.

When was the Court created?

It was created in 1998, by an international treaty, called the Rome Statute. 

123 UN member States recognize its role, but not certain powerful countries, such as the US, Israel or Russia.

The International Criminal Court has been operating since 2002, and only judges crimes committed after that date.

It’s composed of 18 judges elected for 9 years, and sits in The Hague, in the Netherlands. 

It investigates the world’s most violent conflicts, such as those in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur and Ukraine. 

It has shed light on crimes such as the use of child soldiers, sexual violence and attacks on civilians.

The judgments of the International Criminal Court are essential to apply the same justice everywhere in the world.