International Criminal Court

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an international organization. It came into being in 2002. Its purpose is to hear and decide crimes relating to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The ICC functions to complement the existing legal system of national courts of different countries. If any national court is not ready or fit to hear and decide above crimes, the ICJ takes ups the case. Sometimes, ICC’s shot form is ICCt to make it different from similar short forms. For example, International Chamber of Commerce or International Cricket Council also has the short form as ICC. International Criminal Court is also different from the International Court of Justice. In short, International Criminal Courts decides cases relating to individuals; but, International Court of Justice decides cases relating to countries.

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[edit] Development

After the Second World War, it became clear that national laws were not sufficient to deal with genocide and crime against humanity by the Nazis. Nuremburg Trials to deal with crimes committed by Nazis also highlighted the point. Although, proposal for establishment of a court on the line of International Criminal Court had come first in 1949 from the International Law Commission, the matter had remained pending. In 1961, the trail Adolf Eichmann (a Nazi war criminal) took place in Jerusalem. This brought into focus the shortcomings of international law to deal with such crimes.

In early 1990s, the United Nations created ad hoc tribunals to decide war crimes committed in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Finally, after several round of discussion, many countries agree to set up a permanent court to try similar crimes. The International Criminal Court came into existence on 1st July 2002.

[edit] Organization

The ICC has its headquarters in The Hague (Netherlands), but it can conduct its sitting anywhere. The International Criminal Court is composed of the Court itself. It has a number of chambers: Pre-Trial, Trial and Appellate. It also has the Registry, the Office of the Prosecutor and the Assembly of State Parties.

[edit] Cases

Cases may be reach to the International Court of Justice (ICC) by any one of the following four methods:

  1. A country member of the Assembly of States Parties (ratified the Court's Statute) sends the case;
  2. A country that has chosen to accept the ICC's jurisdiction sends the case;
  3. The Security Council sends the case (subject to veto from the permanent five members); or
  4. The three-judge panel authorizes a case initiated by the ICC Prosecutor.

[edit] Members

As of 2005, about 100 countries have accepted fully the establishment of the International Court of Justice. They belong to countries from all parts of the world: from Europe, from Africa, from Americas, from Asia, and from Oceania. There were about 39 other countries that had to complete the process of accepting the establishment of the ICC. Some countries have also raised serious objections about the ICC’s role.

[edit] See also

  • International Law
  • War crimes

[edit] In popular culture

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has also found mention in popular culture. In 2005, a film name The Interpreter was produced. It features a fictional African head of state (perhaps Robert Mugabe who is trying to avoid being sent to ICC by the UN Security Council for crimes against humanity.

[edit] External link