The Rome Statute created the first permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.
Key Facts
- Adopted
- 17 July 1998
- Entered into force
- 1 July 2002
- States party (as of Jan 2025)
- 125 states
- Core crimes established
- 4 (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression)
- Crime of aggression effective
- After 2010 Kampala Conference
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Growing international consensus after World War II atrocities and the ad hoc tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda highlighted the need for a permanent court to prosecute the gravest international crimes, rather than relying on temporary or state-based mechanisms.
At a diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998, states adopted the Rome Statute, a multilateral treaty establishing the International Criminal Court with jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression, subject to principles of complementarity with domestic courts.
The ICC became operational on 1 July 2002 once 60 states had ratified the statute, providing a standing international judicial body to investigate and prosecute individuals for core international crimes when national courts are unable or unwilling to act, with 125 states party by 2025.
Political Outcome
Adoption of the Rome Statute, establishing the International Criminal Court as a permanent treaty-based institution with jurisdiction over four core international crimes.
No permanent international criminal court; ad hoc tribunals used for specific conflicts
Permanent ICC with standing jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression