What is the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

The primary role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is to prosecute individuals for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. This function is crucial in ensuring accountability for serious violations of international law and in providing a framework for justice at an international level. The ICC was established to address gaps in the national jurisdictions of countries that may be unwilling or unable to prosecute such egregious offenses.

By focusing on individual responsibility, the ICC aims to deter future crimes, support victims, and restore peace in post-conflict societies. The court operates on the principle of complementarity, meaning that it intervenes only when national courts are unable or unwilling to carry out prosecutions for these serious offenses.

Other roles that are often associated with international bodies, such as mediating trade disputes, enforcing economic sanctions, or resolving diplomatic negotiations, are handled by different organizations or institutions, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the United Nations (UN). The ICC's specialized focus on criminal accountability sets it apart from these other institutions.