The Role of the International Criminal Court and the United Nations in War Crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations (UN) are two global entities that play an increasingly important role in global war crimes. Both the ICC and the United Nations have established international norms and laws for prosecuting those who commit war crimes and human rights violations throughout the world. In this article, we will discuss the roles of each entity in prosecuting war crimes and how they interact with one another for that purpose.
An Overview of the International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent international body established by the Rome Statute in 2002, a treaty created by the UN which has been ratified by 123 states . The ICC acts as a court of last resort — when member states fail to take action against individuals accused of war crimes and genocide, or are unwilling or unable to bring perpetrators to justice through their own national courts, the ICC is able to exercise jurisdiction and prosecute individuals on its own. The ICC has the power to issue arrest warrants, freeze property, and review evidence presented by lawyers to reach a conclusion on behalf of an accused individual.
The ICC is the only permanent international court that deals with the most serious international crimes — mass atrocities, war crimes and genocide. Through the Rome Statute, the court is mandated to hold those responsible for such acts accountable for their actions, even at the highest levels of government. International crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, cannot be subject to statute of limitations , and to this end the ICC also works to prevent, deter and combat impunity for those responsible for such crimes.
The Role of the United Nations in War Crimes
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that works to maintain international peace and security, prevent conflicts, and provide humanitarian aid . In order to do this, the UN works with the ICC to ensure that justice is done in cases of war crimes and other international crimes.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and handling issues related to war crimes and genocide. One of the council’s key responsibilities is to refer cases of alleged war crimes and genocide to the International Criminal Court. The council can also authorize the ICC to intervene in specific cases, such as in Darfur, where the UNSC requested that the ICC investigate allegations of war crimes against the Sudanese government .
The UN General Assembly has also played an important role in strengthening international laws and norms for prosecuting war crimes and other international crimes. The General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions and Declaration of Human Rights that are used as standards in the prosecution of war crimes and other international crimes. In addition, the UN has set up various committees and other forms of tribunals, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), to prosecute war criminals.
Relationship Between the International Criminal Court and the United Nations
The relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations (UN) is a key component of the international justice system. The ICC works with the UN in a number of ways — most notably in the referral of cases to the ICC by the UN Security Council. The UN also provides support and technical assistance to the ICC in the form of legal advice and other forms of technical expertise.
In addition to referring cases to the ICC, the UN has also provided the court with evidence and information from international and national investigations. This helps to ensure that the ICC is able to properly consider cases and prosecute perpetrators of war crimes and other international crimes. The two organizations also work together to ensure that victims are adequately provided for and protected by international laws, such as the Rome Statute.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations (UN) play a key role in the prosecution of war crimes and other international crimes. The ICC is responsible for prosecuting individuals responsible for such crimes while the UN is responsible for referring cases to the court and providing support and evidence through committees and international tribunals. Both entities work together to ensure accountability for war crimes and international crimes, prevent impunity, and protect victims.
