Human Rights Watch Memorandum for the Fourth Session of the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties

The establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) three years ago represents a high water mark in the international community’s commitment to end the impunity associated with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. As a permanent court, the ICC was envisioned by its founders to be a judicial institution that would build upon the ground-breaking work of the two ad hoc tribunals. The Rome Statute’s provisions were aimed at bridging the gap between international criminal proceedings and the communities most devastated by horrific crimes. The ICC was envisioned to be a mechanism for bringing justice in a broader way to victims by assisting with the re-establishment of the rule of law in war-torn societies and acting as a deterrent for future crimes.