Day of International Criminal Justice

Genocide means an act committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. In particular, those specified acts are killing members of a group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of a group, imposing measures intended to prevent births within a group, or forcibly transferring children of a group to another group.

Crimes against humanity include acts committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack. Included in the list of prohibited acts are murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation or forcible transfer of a population, imprisonment, torture, acts of sexual violence, enforced sterilization, and other acts.

War crimes include grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict and in conflicts not of an international character listed in the Rome Statute, when they are committed as part of a plan or policy or on a large scale. Specifically prohibited are murder, mutilation, torture, taking of hostages, acts of sexual violence, creating child soldiers, and attacks on civilians, hospitals, and houses of worship.

Aggression refers to the planning, preparation, initiation or execution of an act of using armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another state. For this offense, this may include invasion, military occupation, and annexation by the use of force, blockade of the ports or coasts, if such an act is a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations. Additionally, the perpetrator must be a person who is in a position from which he or she can control or direct the political or military action of a state.

The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over cases involving war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression. The ICC is separate from the United Nations, but the two organizations work closely together. Indeed, one way cases can end up before the ICC is when they are referred by the UN Security Council. Otherwise, cases must have taken place in the territory of a party state or committed by a national of a party state. Notably, except for the crime of aggression, the ICC can only prosecute individuals but not states or organizations. The Rome Statute also defines the procedures for investigations, prosecutions, and trials. However, the ICC only can hear cases if the crime was committed after July 1, 2002, when the Rome Statute came into effect. The Rome Statute also addresses issues such as admissibility and applicable law, trials, penalties, appeal and revision, international cooperation and judicial assistance, and enforcement. Regarding immunity, the ICC on...

The International Day of Criminal Justice is a reminder for all states committed to fair and impartial justice for victims of the worst crimes around the world o urgently ensure continued support for the international justice system . The observance is also a reminder for the Court’s strongest advocates, civil society to stand firm in their original commitment in getting the ICC established, now to advance a Rome Statute system of international justice that works for all. "The strengthening of international criminal justice in the last 20 years, and especially the adoption of the Rome Statute and establishment of the new system of international criminal justice and this great Court, will be viewed as a revolutionary advance for peace and the rule of law,” William R. Pace, convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court .