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The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent court in The Hague that prosecutes individuals—not countries—for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. It can investigate and try people only when it has jurisdiction under the Rome Statute, and it depends on states to arrest suspects and enforce sentences. It complements national courts rather than replacing them.
What is the ICC?
The ICC was established by the Rome Statute, adopted on 17 July 1998 and in force from 1 July 2002. The treaty created a permanent international criminal court seated in The Hague. Its jurisdiction concerns individual criminal responsibility: it does not prosecute states or companies. The ICC describes itself as a court of last resort that seeks to “complement, not replace, national Courts.” ICC: About the Court · Rome Statute
That makes the ICC different from a national court. National authorities have primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting crimes under their jurisdiction. The ICC is not a global police force or a higher court that routinely reviews domestic verdicts; it can take up a particular case only under the Statute’s jurisdictional and admissibility rules.
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The Rome Statute gives the Court jurisdiction over four crimes. Their legal elements are distinct, so ordinary-language descriptions are only a starting point; the Statute and Elements of Crimes provide the precise definitions.
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- Genocide: Certain acts committed with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
- Crimes against humanity: Certain prohibited acts committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population.
- War crimes: Serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflict, as set out in the Statute.
- The crime of aggression: A distinct crime concerning the planning, preparation, initiation or execution of an act of aggression, subject to special jurisdictional conditions.
The Court cannot prosecute someone merely because conduct is grave or widely condemned. The conduct must fit a crime within its legal mandate, and the Court must also have jurisdiction over the matter. Rome Statute · Elements of Crimes
When can the ICC act?
Time limits
The ICC’s jurisdiction applies only to crimes committed on or after 1 July 2002, when the Rome Statute entered into force. It cannot prosecute conduct that occurred before that date.
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Connection to a state or a UN Security Council referral
In general, the Court may act where an alleged crime was committed on the territory of a State Party or a state that has accepted its jurisdiction, where the accused is a national of such a state, or where the UN Security Council refers a situation under the Statute. The crime of aggression has additional conditions; the general rules for the other crimes should not be assumed to apply to it in the same way. Rome Statute · ICC: How the Court Works
Complementarity and domestic proceedings
The ICC is complementary to national criminal jurisdictions. A case may be inadmissible if a state with jurisdiction is genuinely investigating or prosecuting it. The ICC can proceed when relevant national proceedings are absent or are not genuine because the state is unwilling or unable to carry them out. This assessment concerns the particular case; it does not mean the Court takes over a country’s justice system.
What happens after an ICC investigation begins?
The Office of the Prosecutor conducts preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecutions. Judges decide whether to issue an arrest warrant or a summons to appear, and the case may proceed through pre-trial, trial and appeals stages. A warrant is a judicial measure, not proof of guilt: the accused is presumed innocent and has the right to a fair trial. ICC: How the Court Works
Can the ICC arrest someone?
No. The ICC has no police force of its own. It relies on states to execute warrants, surrender suspects to the Court in The Hague and help enforce sentences. As a result, a person can remain at large after judges issue a warrant. The ICC says its arrest warrants remain valid for life; issuing one does not mean the person has been arrested, tried or convicted. ICC: How the Court Works
How can victims take part?
Victims may participate in proceedings under arrangements set by the judges and present their views and concerns, including through legal representation where permitted. The Court also has measures to protect victims and witnesses. In cases ending in conviction, judges may order reparations; this does not mean every person harmed automatically receives compensation from the ICC. ICC: How the Court Works · ICC: Victims
How large is the Court’s caseload?
The ICC’s 2026 About the Court facts-and-figures section reports the following cumulative counts and budget figures. These are the Court’s own reported figures and can change over time; they are not independent tallies.
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| ICC-reported measure | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Budget | €196,852,900 |
| Cases before the Court | 34 |
| Arrest warrants issued | 66 |
| People detained at the ICC detention centre and appeared before the Court | 23 |
| People remaining at large | 33 |
| People whose charges were dropped due to their deaths | 8 |
| Summonses to appear issued | 9 |
| Convictions | 15 |
| Acquittals | 4 |
These totals describe different procedural outcomes and should not be read as a single group of people or cases. For current figures, consult the ICC’s About the Court page.
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