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July 29, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Civic Brief • International Law

International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent international tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Updated July 29, 20261 min readCited sources

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent international tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands, that prosecutes individuals for the world's most serious crimes.

What it is

The ICC is the first permanent international criminal court, established by the Rome Statute in 1998 and operational since 2002. It prosecutes individuals—not states—for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

How it works

The ICC operates on the principle of complementarity: it is a court of last resort, acting only when national courts are unwilling or unable to genuinely investigate or prosecute. It is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and uses six official languages.

Canada's role

Canada is a state party to the Rome Statute and has generally supported the ICC as part of the international justice system.

In short

  • ICC prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.
  • It is a permanent court based in The Hague, Netherlands.
  • It acts only when national courts cannot or will not prosecute.
  • Canada is a supporter and state party to the Rome Statute.
Canadian angle

Canada is a state party to the Rome Statute and has generally supported the ICC as part of the international justice system.

Quick questions

What is the International Criminal Court?
The ICC is a permanent international criminal tribunal that prosecutes individuals for the most serious crimes under international law, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
Does the ICC prosecute countries?
No. The ICC prosecutes individuals, not states.
How is the ICC different from national courts?
It is a court of last resort and acts only when national courts are unwilling or unable to genuinely investigate or prosecute.

Sources

  1. International Criminal Court — https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/the-court
    Supports: Official description of the court’s mandate, independence, location, and relationship to national courts.
  2. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights — https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/rome-statute-international-criminal-court
    Supports: Rome Statute text establishing the Court as permanent and complementary to national jurisdictions.
  3. International Criminal Court — https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/how-the-court-works
    Supports: Official explanation of the court’s jurisdiction over the four core crimes.
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Criminal-Court
    Supports: Background on establishment, purpose, and Hague seat.
  5. Reuters — https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/factbox-key-facts-about-the-international-criminal-court-idUSL2616557/
    Supports: Concise fact summary on the ICC as a permanent tribunal for serious international crimes.
  6. International Criminal Court — https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/Publications/understanding-the-icc.pdf
    Supports: Official overview of the Rome Statute, jurisdiction, and the Court’s mandate.