International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an international organization created by the Rome Treaty, but not a part of the United Nations. It became operational when 120 nations had signed that Treaty.

As opposed to the International Court of Justice, which hears disputes among countries, the ICC is focused on individuals accused of crimes against humanity, such as genocide. It is the successor to ad hoc judicial processes such as the International Military Tribunal (Nuremberg), the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the Nuremberg Military Tribunals, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Military Tribunal (Tokyo).

A number of major nations, including the United States of America and China, have not signed the treaty or accept the ICC's jurisdiction. Reasons vary, ranging from a concern that it infringes on national sovereignty, to that it will be used in an unfair politicized manner under the rubric of "lawfare". Lawfare, as discussed by Jack Goldsmith, is the use of international humanitarian law as a means of exerting the will of other nations on states with which they have ideological grievances.

It is located at The Hague in the Netherlands, and funded primarily by its States Parties, as well as receives voluntary contributions from governments, international organizations, individuals, corporations and other entities.