International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal seated in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. The ICC is distinct from the International Court of Justice, an organ of the United Nations that hears disputes between states.
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Some of the key events about International Criminal Court

  • 1998
    The Rome Statute, establishing the International Criminal Court, was adopted by 120 countries
  • 2002
    The ICC officially came into existence after 60 countries ratified the Rome Statute
  • 2002
    Failed to secure cooperation from major world powers like the United States, China, and Russia
  • 2003
    The Court's first judges were sworn in, marking the beginning of its operational phase
  • 2004
    The ICC launched its first investigation into alleged crimes in Uganda
  • 2005
    The Court issued its first arrest warrants for leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda
  • 2005
    Issued arrest warrant for Sudanese president, leading to accusations of bias against African leaders
  • 2006
    The ICC opened its first trial, focusing on the recruitment of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 2008
    Faced criticism for slow progress in prosecutions and high costs
  • 2010
    The Rome Statute was amended to include the crime of aggression within the Court's jurisdiction
  • 2011
    Accused of selective justice for focusing primarily on African conflicts
  • 2012
    The ICC delivered its first verdict, convicting a Congolese warlord of war crimes
  • 2014
    Dropped charges against Kenyan president due to lack of evidence, raising questions about effectiveness
  • 2016
    The Court conducted its first trial for cultural destruction as a war crime, related to events in Mali
  • 2016
    Several African countries announced intentions to withdraw from the ICC, citing perceived bias
  • 2017
    Burundi became the first country to officially withdraw from the ICC
  • 2018
    Acquitted former Congolese vice president, leading to concerns about the court's ability to secure convictions
  • 2019
    The ICC achieved a milestone of 123 member states, demonstrating growing international support
  • 2019
    Rejected request to investigate alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, sparking criticism of bowing to political pressure
  • 2020
    Faced sanctions from the United States for investigating potential war crimes in Afghanistan

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

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