How does the International Criminal Court differ from the International Court of Justice?
See below for the most important differences and similarities between the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice:
International Criminal Court International Court of Justice
Part of the United Nations (UN)? No. The International Criminal Court is independent but cooperates closely with the UN. Yes. The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
What is its aim? To try individuals who are suspected of the crime of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or the crime of aggression. To settle legal disputes between states, and to advise the UN on legal questions.
Where is it located? The Hague The Hague
The world’s only permanent international criminal court
The International Criminal Court has been established for an indefinite period and is not limited to a particular event or situation. This makes it the world’s only permanent international criminal court dealing with the gravest unpunished international crimes.
There are also temporary criminal courts – known as ad hoc tribunals – which are often part of the UN and focus on one particular situation. Their role is to try individuals who are responsible for grave violations of international law. Examples of direct predecessors to the ICC are the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (1993-2017), which was established in response to the war in the former Yugoslavia, and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (1994-2015), which was established following the Rwandan genocide.
Cases at the International Criminal Court
On the website of the International Criminal court you can find a list of all current and closed cases, as well as an up-to-date overview of the most relevant facts and figures.
If you would like to attend a hearing of the International Criminal Court, please see the Court Calendar. Underneath the Court Calendar you can also find a link to the ICC’s live web stream.
Security and justice
The International Criminal Court is working to create a safer and more just world, by investigating serious crimes and trying the perpetrators. And hopefully by deterring such crimes. What’s more, creating a more just world will also make the Netherlands safer.
As a State Party to the Rome Statute and as the ICC’s host country, the Netherlands supports the work of the ICC and other international organisations in the Netherlands by helping to strengthen the international legal order. The Netherlands also promotes the rule of law worldwide, under which not only citizens but also governments are bound by laws. In other words, no country or person is above the law.