ICC: Delivering justice for the world's worst crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) faces ongoing scrutiny regarding its effectiveness and perceived bias in prosecuting war crimes. While intended as a court of last resort, it has struggled with low conviction rates and criticism from major global powers.
Why it matters
The ICC's ability to hold leaders accountable for atrocities is a cornerstone of international law, yet its legitimacy is currently challenged by geopolitical tensions.
The ICC, housed in a shiny glass building on the outskirts of The Hague, was set up in 2002 to try people accused of the world's worst crimes -- war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, says the court acts for "millions of children, women and men, (who) have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity".
Seen as a successor to the Nuremberg Nazi war crimes tribunal, the ICC operates as a "court of last resort", taking on only cases that national courts are unwilling or unable to judge.
Trials also feature a representative of alleged victims, who often look to the ICC as a way of delivering justice they have been unable to achieve at home.
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