Syllabus: GS2/ International Relation
In News
- Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced they will immediately withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), labelling it an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression”.
About International Criminal Court (ICC)
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent, permanent international tribunal established in 2002 under the Rome Statute.
- It is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and is the world’s only court with a mandate to prosecute individuals (not states) for the gravest international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.
- The ICC’s jurisdiction applies to crimes committed on the territory of member states, by nationals of member states, or those referred to by the UN Security Council. As of early 2025, it has 125 state parties (members).
- Major powers like the United States, China, Russia, and India are not members and do not recognize its jurisdiction.
Issues and Criticisms of the ICC
- Perception of African Bias and Selective Justice: Critics (including African Union leaders) argue that this represents “selective justice” or neo-colonialism, especially since there are grave atrocity crimes reported in other parts of the world that have not led to ICC prosecutions.
- Effectiveness and Enforcement Problems: The ICC does not have its own police force and relies on member states for arrests and enforcement.
- Lack of Universal Jurisdiction: Major nations (US, China, Russia, India, Israel, etc.) are not parties to the Rome Statute. Their absence undermines the universality and reach of the ICC.
- Slow Proceedings and High Costs: The ICC has been criticised for the length and expense of its proceedings, with only a small number of convictions since 2002 despite years of investigations.
Source: TH
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