• July 1, 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC now has 121 states parties, has opened investigations in seven countries, and has issued one verdict. Arrest warrants are pending for suspects for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Libya, Sudan, Uganda, and the Congo, among other locales. Over the last decade, despite some performance problems and inconsistent support from governments, the court has made significant headway, giving rise to increased  expectations wherever the world’s worst crimes occur, as poignantly demonstrated by the signs held by Syrian protesters that read “Assad to The Hague.”  While the ICC is now the primary address for international criminal accountability, its daunting mandate and extended reach have made the flaws in its workings more visible. The 10th anniversary of the ICC also coincides with a new head prosecutor for the court. Fatou Bensouda, who was recently sworn in as prosecutor for a nine-year term, and other court officials face major challenges in meeting these expanded expectations for the court.

  • The entrance of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    July 1 marks the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the first permanent international court with a mandate to investigate, charge, and try people suspected of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes worldwide. At the ripe old age of 10, the court has become a high-profile institution on the world stage -- central to nearly every call for international justice for the most serious crimes.

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International Criminal Court

  • Jun 30, 2013
    President Barack Obama’s second presidential visit to Africa kicks off in Senegal, with stops in South Africa and Tanzania. This is a good regional mix highlighting the development and governance successes that are likely to be main themes of his trip. Senegal’s peaceful political transition is additional incentive.
  • Jun 19, 2013
  • Jun 18, 2013
    Satellite images confirm the wholesale destruction of villages in Central Darfur in an attack in April 2013 by a militia leader sought by the International Criminal Court
  • Jun 11, 2013
    Human Rights Watch welcomes the willingness of the government of Côte d’Ivoire to renew the Independent Expert’s mandate, demonstrating its commitment to improve the country’s human rights situation and to implement the Independent Expert’s recommendations. The Independent Expert has repeatedly stressed that impartial justice is essential to end the country’s decade-long human rights crisis.
  • Jun 4, 2013
    Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned by the escalating level of violence in Syria.In particular, we express grave concern for the safety of the remaining civilian population in al-Qusayr as well as wounded and captured fighters on all sides. Local opposition activists told Human Rights Watch that recent government attacks on fleeing civilians, including a reported attack on May 31, have made it difficult to escape and put remaining civilians, including many wounded, at great risk.
  • Jun 3, 2013
    A Sudanese commander wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) led or participated in deadly attacks on ethnic Salamat communities in Central Darfur during April 2013. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that the attackers appeared to include government forces using government weapons and equipment.
  • May 31, 2013

    Libya should abide by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision on May 31, 2013, and turn over Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to the court.

  • May 16, 2013

    Civil society groups from more than 30 African countries called on African Union (AU) member countries to ensure that the AU promotes justice for grave international crimes, in a letter to the foreign ministers of African Union member states which was made public by the groups today.
     

  • May 14, 2013

    We, the undersigned African civil society organisations and international organisations with a presence in Africa, working on human rights and international criminal justice, are pleased to congratulate the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), on the occasion of its 50thAnniversary.

  • May 13, 2013

    Far from giving in to any effort by Kenya to drive a further wedge between the AU and the ICC, the AU should use its upcoming summit to call publicly for the new government’s full co-operation with the ICC.