Understanding

the International
Criminal Court
Understanding
the International
Criminal Court
Table of Contents

I. The International Criminal Court at a glance 3

II. Structure of the ICC 7

III. Crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC 11

IV. How does the ICC operate? 15

A. Referrals, analyses and investigations 15

B. Arrests 21
C. The rights of suspects 25
D. Confirmation of charges before trial 29
E. The trial 33
F. Judgment and sentence 37
G. Appeals and revision 37

V. Victims and witnesses 41

VI. Further information about the ICC 49

Understanding the International Criminal Court

 “(…) the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a
whole must not go unpunished (…)”

Preamble to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

On 17 July, 1998, 120 States adopted a statute in Rome - known as the Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court (“the Rome Statute”) - establishing the International
Criminal Court. For the first time in the history of humankind, States decided to accept
the jurisdiction of a permanent international criminal court for the prosecution of the
perpetrators of the most serious crimes committed in their territories or by their nationals
after the entry into force of the Rome Statute on 1 July, 2002.

The International Criminal Court is not a substitute for national courts. According to the
Rome Statute, it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those
responsible for international crimes. The International Criminal Court can only intervene
where a State is unable or unwilling genuinely to carry out the investigation and prosecute
the perpetrators.

The primary mission of the International Criminal Court is to help put an end to impunity
for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community
as a whole, and thus to contribute to the prevention of such crimes.

A well-informed public can contribute to guaranteeing lasting respect for and the
enforcement of international justice. The purpose of this booklet is to promote a better
understanding of the International Criminal Court by providing answers to the most
frequently asked questions about the Court.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 1

2
I. The International Criminal Court at a glance

1. What is the International Criminal Court?

The International Criminal Court (“the ICC” or “the Court”) is a permanent international
court established to investigate, prosecute and try individuals accused of committing the
most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the
crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

2. Why was the ICC established?

Some of the most heinous crimes were committed during the conflicts which marked
the twentieth century. Unfortunately, many of these violations of international law have
remained unpunished. The Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals were established in the wake
of the Second World War. In 1948, when the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide was adopted, the United Nations General Assembly recognised
the need for a permanent international court to deal with the kinds of atrocities which had
just been perpetrated.

The idea of a system of international criminal justice re-emerged after the end of the Cold
War. However, while negotiations on the ICC Statute were underway at the United Nations,
the world was witnessing the commission of heinous crimes in the territory of the former
Yugoslavia and in Rwanda. In response to these atrocities, the United Nations Security
Council established an ad hoc tribunal for each of these situations.

These events undoubtedly had a most significant impact on the decision to convene the
conference which established the ICC in Rome in the summer of 1998.

3. What is the Rome Statute?

On 17 July, 1998, a conference of 160 States established the first treaty-based permanent
international criminal court. The treaty adopted during that conference is known as the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Among other things, it sets out the
crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the ICC, the rules of procedure and the mechanisms
for States to co operate with the ICC. The countries which have accepted these rules are
known as States Parties and are represented in the Assembly of States Parties.

The Assembly of States Parties, which meets at least once a year, sets the general policies
for the administration of the Court and reviews its activities. During those meetings, the
States Parties review the activities of the working groups established by the States and any
other issues relevant to the ICC, discuss new projects and adopt the ICC’s annual budget.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 3

4. How many countries have ratified the Rome Statute?
As of June, 2010, 111 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute. Of these, 30 are from
Africa, 15 from Asia, 17 from Eastern Europe, 24 from Latin America and the Caribbean
and 25 from Western European and North America.

5. Where is the seat of the Court?

The seat of the Court is in The Hague in the Netherlands. The Rome Statute provides that
the Court may sit elsewhere whenever the judges consider it desirable. The Court has also
set up offices in the areas where it is conducting investigations.

6. How is the Court funded?

The Court is funded by contributions from the States Parties and by voluntary contributions
from Governments, international organisations, individuals, corporations and other
entities.

7. How does the ICC differ from other courts?

The ICC is a permanent autonomous court, whereas the ad hoc tribunals for the former
Yugoslavia and Rwanda, as well as other similar courts established within the framework
of the United Nations to deal with specific situations only have a limited mandate and
jurisdiction. The ICC, which tries individuals, is also different from the International Court
of Justice, which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations for the settlement of
disputes between States. The ad hoc tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International
Court of Justice also have their seats in The Hague.

8. Is the ICC an office or agency of the United Nations?

No. The ICC is an independent body whose mission is to try individuals for crimes within
its jurisdiction without the need for a special mandate from the United Nations. On
4 October, 2004, the ICC and the United Nations signed an agreement governing their
institutional relationship.

9. Is the ICC meant to replace national courts?

No. The ICC does not replace national criminal justice systems; rather, it complements
them. It can investigate and, where warranted, prosecute and try individuals only if the
State concerned does not, cannot or is unwilling genuinely to do so. This might occur
where proceedings are unduly delayed or are intended to shield individuals from their
criminal responsibility. This is known as the principle of complementarity, under which
priority is given to national systems. States retain primary responsibility for trying the
perpetrators of the most serious of crimes.

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10. Under what conditions does the ICC exercise its jurisdiction?
When a State becomes a party to the Rome Statute, it agrees to submit itself to the
jurisdiction of the ICC with respect to the crimes enumerated in the Statute. The Court
may exercise its jurisdiction in situations where the alleged perpetrator is a national of a
State Party or where the crime was committed in the territory of a State Party. Also, a State
not party to the Statute may decide to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC. These conditions
do not apply when the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter, refers a situation to the Prosecutor.

11. Is the ICC’s jurisdiction time bound?

The ICC has jurisdiction only with respect to events which occurred after the entry into
force of its Statute on 1 July, 2002. If a State becomes a party to the Statute after its entry into
force, the Court may exercise its jurisdiction only with respect to crimes committed after
the entry into force of the Statute for that State, unless that State has made a declaration
accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC retroactively. However, the Court cannot exercise
jurisdiction with respect to events which occurred before 1 July, 2002. For a new State
Party, the Statute enters into force on the first day of the month after the 60th day following
the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

12. Who can be prosecuted before the ICC?

The ICC prosecutes individuals, not groups or States. Any individual who is alleged to
have committed crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC may be brought before the ICC.
In fact, the Prosecutor’s prosecutorial policy is to focus on those who, having regard to the
evidence gathered, bear the greatest responsibility for the crimes, and does not take into
account any official position that may be held by the alleged perpetrators.

13. If those who bear the greatest responsibility hold high political or military
office, are they not exempt from prosecution? Can they not be granted immunity
or amnesty?
No one is exempt from prosecution because of his or her current functions or because of the
position he or she held at the time the crimes concerned were committed. (…)

Acting as a Head of State or Government, minister or parliamentarian does not exempt

anyone from criminal responsibility before the ICC.

In some circumstances, a person in a position of authority may even be held responsible for
crimes committed by those acting under his or her command or orders.

Likewise, amnesty cannot be used as a defence before the ICC. As such, it cannot bar the
Court from exercising its jurisdiction.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 5

6
II. Structure of the ICC

The ICC is composed of four organs: the Presidency, the Chambers, the Office of the
Prosecutor and the Registry. Each of these organs has a specific role and mandate.

14. What does the Presidency do?

The Presidency consists of three judges (the President and two Vice-Presidents) elected by
an absolute majority of the 18 judges of the Court for a maximum of two, three-year terms.

The Presidency is responsible for the administration of the Court, with the exception of the
Office of the Prosecutor. It represents the Court to the outside world and helps with the
organisation of the work of the judges. The Presidency is also responsible for carrying out
other tasks, such as ensuring the enforcement of sentences imposed by the Court.

15. What do the Chambers do?

The 18 judges, including the three judges of the Presidency, are assigned to the Court’s
three judicial divisions: the Pre-Trial Division (composed of seven judges), the Trial
Division, (composed of six judges), and the Appeals Division (composed of five judges).
They are assigned to the following Chambers: the Pre-Trial Chambers (each composed of
one or three judges), the Trial Chambers (each composed of three judges) and the Appeals
Chamber (composed of the five judges of the Appeals Division).

16. How are the judges elected?

The judges are elected by the Assembly of States Parties on the basis of their established
competence in criminal law and procedure and in relevant areas of international law such
as international humanitarian law and the law of human rights. They have extensive
expertise on specific issues, such as violence against women or children.

The election of the judges takes into account the need for the representation of the
principal legal systems of the world, a fair representation of men and women, and equitable
geographical distribution.

The judges are persons of high moral character, impartiality and integrity who possess the
qualifications required in their respective States for appointment to the highest judicial
offices. All have extensive experience relevant to the Court’s judicial activity.

The judges ensure the fairness of proceedings and the proper administration of justice.

17. What is the role of the Pre-Trial Chambers?

The Pre-Trial Chambers, each of which is composed of either one or three judges, resolve all

Understanding the International Criminal Court 7

issues which arise before the trial phase begins. Their role is essentially to supervise how
the Prosecutor carries out his or her investigatory and prosecutorial activities, to guarantee
the rights of suspects, victims and witnesses during the investigatory phase, and to ensure
the integrity of the proceedings. The Pre-Trial Chambers then decide whether or not to
issue warrants of arrest or summons to appear at the Prosecutor’s request and whether or
not to confirm the charges against a person suspected of a crime. They may also decide on
the admissibility of situations and cases and on the participation of victims at the pre-trial
stage.

18. What is the role of the Trial Chambers?

Once an arrest warrant is issued, the alleged perpetrator arrested and the charges
confirmed by a Pre-Trial Chamber, the Presidency constitutes a Trial Chamber composed
of three judges to try the case.

A Trial Chamber’s primary function is to ensure that trials are fair and expeditious and are
conducted with full respect for the rights of the accused and due regard for the protection of
the victims and the witnesses. It also rules on the participation of victims at the trial stage.

The Trial Chamber determines whether an accused is innocent or guilty of the charges
and, if he or she is found guilty, may impose a sentence of imprisonment for a specified
number of years not exceeding a maximum of thirty years or life imprisonment. Financial
penalties may also be imposed. A Trial Chamber may thus order a convicted person to
make reparations for the harm suffered by the victims, including compensation, restitution
or rehabilitation.

19. What are the main functions of the Appeals Chamber?

The Appeals Chamber is composed of the President of the Court and four other judges. All
parties to the trial may appeal or seek leave to appeal decisions of the Pre-Trial and Trial
Chambers. The Appeals Chamber may uphold, reverse or amend the decision appealed
from, including judgments and sentencing decisions, and may even order a new trial before
a different Trial Chamber.

It may also revise a final judgment of conviction or sentence.

20. What does the Office of the Prosecutor do?

The Office of the Prosecutor is an independent organ of the Court. Its mandate is to receive
and analyse information on situations or alleged crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC,
to analyse situations referred to it in order to determine whether there is a reasonable
basis to initiate an investigation into a crime of genocide, crimes against humanity or war
crimes, and to bring the perpetrators of these crimes before the Court.

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In order to fulfil its mandate, the Office of the Prosecutor is composed of three divisions: (i)
the Investigation Division, which is responsible for the conduct of investigations (including
gathering and examining evidence, questioning persons under investigation as well
as victims and witnesses). In this respect, for the purpose of establishing the truth, the
Statute requires the Office of the Prosecutor to investigate incriminating and exonerating
circumstances equally. (ii) The Prosecution Division, which has a role in the investigative
process, but whose principal responsibility is the litigation of cases before the various
Chambers of the Court. (iii) The Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division,
which, with the support of the Investigation Division, assesses information received
and situations referred to the Court, analyses situations and cases to determine their
admissibility and helps secure the cooperation required by the Office of the Prosecutor in
order to fulfil its mandate.

21. What does the Registry do?

The Registry helps the Court to conduct fair, impartial and public trials. The core function
of the Registry is to provide administrative and operational support to the Chambers and
the Office of the Prosecutor. It also supports the Registrar’s activities in relation to defence,
victims, communication and security matters. It ensures that the Court is properly serviced
and develops effective mechanisms for assisting victims, witnesses and the defence in order
to safeguard their rights under the Rome Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

As the Court’s official channel of communication, the Registry also has primary
responsibility for the ICC’s public information and outreach activities.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 9

10
III. Crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC

22. Which crimes fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC?

The mandate of the Court is to try individuals rather than States, and to hold such persons
accountable for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a
whole, namely the crime of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and, eventually,
the crime of aggression.

23. What is genocide?

According to the Rome Statute, “genocide” means any of the following acts committed
with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group:
• killing members of the group;
• causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its
physical destruction in whole or in part;
• imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
• forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

24. What are crimes against humanity?

“Crimes against humanity” include any of the following acts committed as part of a
widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge
of the attack:
• murder;
• extermination;
• enslavement;
• deportation or forcible transfer of population;
• imprisonment;
• torture;
• rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization,
or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity;
• persecution against an identifiable group on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural,
religious or gender grounds;
• enforced disappearance of persons;
• the crime of apartheid;
• other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering or
serious bodily or mental injury.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 11

25. What are war crimes?
“War crimes” include grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and other serious
violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict and in conflicts
“not of an international character” listed in the Rome Statute, when they are committed as
part of a plan or policy or on a large scale. These prohibited acts include:
• murder;
• mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
• taking of hostages;
• intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population;
• intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art,
science or charitable purposes, historical monuments or hospitals;
• pillaging;
• rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy or any other form of sexual violence;
• conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or
groups or using them to participate actively in hostilities. (…)

26. What about the crime of aggression?

The “crime of aggression” is one of the crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC under the
Rome Statute, although the States Parties must still adopt a provision defining the crime
and setting out the conditions under which the Court shall exercise its jurisdiction with
respect thereto.

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Understanding the International Criminal Court 13
14
IV. How does the ICC operate?

A. Referrals, analyses and investigations

27. How do cases come before the Court?

Any State Party to the Rome Statute can request the Prosecutor to carry out an investigation.
A State not party to the Statute can also accept the jurisdiction of the ICC with respect to
crimes committed in its territory or by one of its nationals, and request the Prosecutor to
carry out an investigation. The United Nations Security Council may also refer a situation
to the Court.

28. Can the Prosecutor decide on his own to initiate an investigation?

Yes, if the Office of the Prosecutor receives reliable information about crimes involving
nationals of a State Party or of a State which has accepted the jurisdiction of the ICC,
or about crimes committed in the territory of such a State, and concludes that there is a
reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation. Such information can be provided by
individuals, intergovernmental or non-governmental organisations, or any other reliable
sources. The Prosecutor must, however, obtain the permission of the judges of the Pre-Trial
Chamber before initiating an investigation under such circumstances. On 26 November,
2009, the Prosecution sought authorisation to open an investigation with regard to the
post–election violence in Kenya. Pre-Chamber II granted the Prosecutor’s request on 31
March, 2010.

29. Has any State or the Security Council requested that the Prosecutor carry out
an investigation?
To date, four situations have been referred to the Prosecutor. Three States Parties have
requested the Prosecutor to conduct an investigation: the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Uganda, and the Central African Republic. The Security Council, acting under
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, has also requested the Prosecutor to investigate
the situation in Darfur, Sudan. The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Palestine declared
accepting the jurisdiction of the Court.

30. What happens when a situation is referred to the ICC for investigation?
The Prosecutor determines whether, in his opinion, the Court has jurisdiction with
respect to the alleged crimes. Following a thorough analysis of the available information,
he decides whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation. Thus, he
must establish whether the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes
may have been committed and, if so, whether they were committed after 1 July, 2002. The
Prosecutor must also ascertain whether any national authorities are conducting a genuine
investigation or trial of the alleged perpetrators of the crimes. Lastly, he must notify the

Understanding the International Criminal Court 15

States Parties and other States which may have jurisdiction of his intention to initiate an
investigation.

31. There are allegations that ICC is only targeting African countries. Is that
true?
No. The International Criminal Court is an independent judicial institution that it is not
subject to political control. As an independent court its decisions are based on legal criteria
and rendered by impartial judges in accordance with the provisions of its founding treaty,
the Rome Statute and other legal texts governing the work of the Court.

The ICC is concerned with countries that have accepted the Court’s jurisdiction and
these are in all continents, including Africa. Three of the five situations currently under
investigation were referred by African states themselves. Between 2003 and 2005 the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and the Central African Republic referred
situations on their own territory to the ICC. The fourth situation, Darfur, was referred by
the United Nations Security Council by resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, as
provided for by article 13 of the Rome Statute.

African countries made great contributions to the establishment of the Court and influenced
the decision to have an independent Office of the Prosecutor. In 1997, the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) was very active in supporting the proposed Court
and its declaration on the matter was endorsed in February 1998, by the participants
of the African Conference meeting in Dakar, Senegal, through the ‘Declaration on the
Establishment of the International Criminal Court’. At the Rome Conference itself the most
meaningful declarations about the Court were made by Africans. Without African support
the Rome Statute might never have been adopted. In fact 43 African countries are currently
signatories of the Rome Statute, of which 30 are parties to the Statute, making Africa the
most heavily represented region in the Court’s membership. The trust and support comes
not only from the governments, but also from civil society organisations.

The Court has also benefited from the professional experience of Africans. Five of the
Court’s current judges are African: Ms Fatoumata Dembele Diarra (Mali), Ms Akua
Kuenyehia (Ghana), Mr Daniel David Ntanda Nsereko (Uganda), Ms Joyce Aluoch (Kenya),
and Ms Sanji Mmasenono Monageng (Botswana). One former judge, Ms Navanethem
Pillay (South Africa), is now the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

A number of Africans occupy high positions at the Court, including the Deputy Prosecutor
Fatou Bensouda (The Gambia) and Deputy Registrar Didier Preira (Senegal).

Lastly, situations in six countries on four continents are under analysis by the Office of the

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Prosecutor: Afghanistan, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Georgia, Guinea and Palestine.

32. What implications does the issuing of the arrest warrant against Omar Al
Bashir, a sitting head of state, mean for the already fragile peace process in
Sudan?
The Court is aware of developments in the peace process, but is not a party to that
process. The ICC is a judicial institution with a judicial mandate. Peace and justice are not
antithetical.

In fact, the situation in Darfur was referred to the Court by resolution 1593 adopted by
the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The preamble
of the resolution states “that the situation in Sudan continues to constitute a threat to
international peace and security.” By adopting this determination the Security Council
re-affirmed not only that justice and peace are compatible, but that justice is an important
factor in restoring peace and security.

It is necessary to make a distinction between a political process and a judicial one. The
ICC does not have a humanitarian mandate and has no jurisdiction with respect to peace
negotiations. Its role in helping to bring peace into Darfur shall be done by holding fair
judicial proceedings.

33. How is an investigation conducted?

The Office of the Prosecutor sends its investigators to collect evidence in areas where
crimes are alleged to have been committed. The investigators must be careful not to create
any risk to the victims and witnesses. The Office of the Prosecutor also requests the co
operation and assistance of States and international organisations. The investigators look
for evidence of a suspect’s guilt or innocence.

34. How many investigations are ongoing and where?

The Office of the Prosecutor is currently conducting investigations in five States: Sudan
(for the situation in Darfur), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, the Central
African Republic and Kenya.

In addition, the Office of the Prosecutor is currently analysing a number of other situations,
including the situations in Afghanistan, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Georgia, Guinea and
Palestine.

35. Will the ICC prosecute all persons suspected of committing the most serious
crimes?
No. The Court will not be able to bring to justice every person suspected of committing

Understanding the International Criminal Court 17

crimes of concern to the international community. The prosecutorial policy of the Office of
the Prosecutor is to focus its investigations and prosecutions on those who, having regard
to the evidence gathered, bear the greatest responsibility for such crimes.

36. Can other courts try the perpetrators that the ICC does not prosecute?
Under the principle of complementarity, national judicial systems retain their responsibility
for trying perpetrators of crimes.

37. Can the ICC try children?

The Court has no jurisdiction with respect to any person who was under the age of 18 when
the crimes concerned were committed.

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Understanding the International Criminal Court 19
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B. Arrests

38. Who has the power to issue a warrant of arrest or a summons to appear?
After the initiation of an investigation, only a Pre-Trial Chamber may, at the request of the
Prosecutor, issue a warrant of arrest or summons to appear if there are reasonable grounds
to believe that the person concerned has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the
ICC.

39. What information do the judges need from the Prosecutor before they can
issue a warrant of arrest or a summons to appear?
When the Prosecutor requests the issuance of a warrant of arrest or summons to appear, he
must provide the judges with the following information:
• the name of the person;
• a description of the crimes the person is believed to have committed;
• a concise summary of the facts (the acts alleged to be crimes);
• a summary of the evidence against the person;
• the reasons why the Prosecutor believes that it is necessary to arrest the person.

40. What reasons may justify the issuing of a warrant of arrest?

The judges will issue a warrant of arrest if it appears necessary to ensure that the person
will actually appear at trial, that he or she will not obstruct or endanger the investigation
or the Court’s proceedings, or to prevent the person from continuing to commit crimes.

41. What happens after a warrant of arrest is issued?

The Registrar transmits requests for co-operation seeking the arrest and surrender of the
suspect to the relevant State or to other States, depending on the decision of the judges in
each case.

Once the person is arrested and the Court is so informed, the Court ensures that the person
receives a copy of the warrant of arrest in a language which he or she fully understands
and speaks.

42. Does the ICC have the power to arrest suspects?

The Court does not have its own police force. Accordingly, it relies on State co-operation,
which is essential to the arrest and surrender of suspects.

43. Who has to execute the warrants of arrest?

The responsibility to enforce warrants of arrest in all cases remains with States. In
establishing the ICC, the States set up a system based on two pillars. The Court itself is
the judicial pillar. The operational pillar belongs to States, including the enforcement of

Understanding the International Criminal Court 21

Court’s orders.

States Parties to the Rome Statute have a legal obligation to co-operate fully with the ICC.
When a State Party fails to comply with a request to co-operate, the Court may make a
finding to that effect and refer the matter for further action to the Assembly of States Parties.

When the Court’s jurisdiction is triggered by the Security Council, the duty to co-operate
extends to all UN Member States, regardless of whether or not they are a Party to the
Statute. The crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court are the gravest crimes known to
humanity and as provided for by article 29 of the Statute they shall not be subject to any
statute of limitations. Warrants of arrest are lifetime orders and therefore individuals still
at large will sooner or later face the Court.

44. What happens after a person is arrested?

An arrested person is brought promptly before the competent judicial authority in the
custodial State, which determines whether the warrant is indeed for the arrested person,
whether the person was arrested consistently with due process and whether the person’s
rights have been respected. Once an order for surrender is issued, the person is delivered to
the Court, and held at the Detention Centre in The Hague, The Netherlands.

45. What are the conditions of detention at the Detention Centre in The Hague?
The ICC Detention Centre operates in conformity with the highest international human
rights standards for the treatment of detainees, such as the United Nations Standard
Minimum Rules. (…) An independent inspecting authority conducts regular and
unannounced inspections of the Centre in order to examine how detainees are being held
and treated.

At the ICC Detention Centre, the daily schedule affords the detainees the opportunity
to take walks in the courtyard, to exercise, receive medical care, to take part in manual
activities and to have access to the facilities at their disposal for the preparation of their
defence. Additionally, the centre has multimedia facilities and offers a series of training,
leisure and sports programmes. (…) ICC detainees also have access to computers, TV,
books and magazines. Those who are indigent have the right to call their Defence Counsel
free of charge during official working hours. Each 10m2 cell is designed to hold one person
only. A standard cell contains a bed, desk, shelving, a cupboard, toilet, hand basin, TV and
an intercom system to contact the guards when the cell is locked.

The Court provides three meals per day, but the detainees also have access to a communal
kitchen if they wish to cook. A shopping list is also available to detainees so that they can
procure additional items, to the extent possible.

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All detainees may be visited by their families several times a year and, in the case of
detainees declared indigent, at the Court’s expense, to the extent possible.

Persons convicted of crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC do not serve their sentence
at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague as the facility is not designed for long-term
imprisonment. Convicted persons are therefore transferred (…) to a prison outside The
Netherlands, in a State designated by the Court from a list of States which have indicated
their willingness to allow convicted persons to serve their sentence there.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 23

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C. The rights of suspects

46. Are detainees deemed to have been convicted by virtue of their transfer to
the Court?
No. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty before the Court. The Prosecutor
must prove the guilt of the suspect and a Trial Chamber will convict someone only if it is
satisfied that the charges have been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

47. What rights do suspects have?

Suspects are presumed innocent. They are present in the courtroom during the trial, and
they have a right to a public, fair and impartial hearing of their case. To this end, a series
of guarantees are set out in the Court’s legal documents, including the following rights, to
mention but a few:
• to be defended by the counsel (lawyer) of their choice, present evidence and witnesses
of their own and to use a language which they fully understand and speak;
• to be informed in detail of the charges in a language which they fully understand and
speak;
• to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of the defence and to
communicate freely and in confidence with counsel;
• to be tried without undue delay;
• not to be compelled to testify or to confess guilt and to remain silent, without such
silence being a consideration in the determination of guilt or innocence;
• to have the Prosecutor disclose to the defence evidence in his possession or control
which he believes shows or tends to show the innocence of the accused, or to mitigate
the guilt of the accused, or which may affect the credibility of prosecution evidence.

48. What happens if a suspect does not have the means to pay for legal assistance?
Suspects have the right to legal assistance in any case where the interests of justice so
require and, if the suspect does not have the means to pay for it, to legal assistance assigned
by the Court.

49. Can detainees obtain interim release pending trial?

All detainees are entitled to apply for interim release pending trial. In the event of rejection,
the decision is periodically reviewed by the competent chamber, at least every 120 days,
and may be reviewed at any time at the request of the detained person or the Prosecutor.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 25

50. What is the role of the Office of Public Counsel for the Defence (OPCD)?
The OPCD promotes, represents and researches the rights of the defence, raises the profile
of substantive defence issues, and endeavours to achieve equality of arms for the defence at
all stages of an investigation and trial.

The Office is independent in terms of its substantive functions, but falls within the remit of
the Registry solely for administrative purposes.

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D. Confirmation of charges before trial

51. Do suspects appear before the Court as soon as they arrive in The Hague?
Yes. Within a reasonable time after the suspect’s surrender or voluntary appearance before
the Court, a Pre-Trial Chamber holds a hearing to confirm the charges, the date of which
is set at the suspect’s first appearance hearing, which takes place immediately after his or
her arrival in The Hague.

The confirmation hearing is held in the presence of the Prosecutor, the person being
prosecuted, and his or her counsel. As provided by article 61 of the Statute, the suspect can
waive his or her right to be present at this hearing.

At the hearing - which is not a trial - the Prosecutor must present to the judges sufficient
evidence to satisfy them that there are substantial grounds to believe that the person has
committed the crimes for which he or she stands accused. The person may object to the
charges, challenge the Prosecutor’s evidence and also present evidence.

52. What decisions can a Pre-Trial Chamber issue following a confirmation

hearing?
Following a confirmation hearing, a Pre-Trial Chamber may:
• decline to confirm the charges; such a decision does not prevent the Prosecutor from
presenting a subsequent request for confirmation of the charges on the basis of
additional evidence;
• adjourn the hearing and request the Prosecutor to consider providing further evidence
or conducting further investigation, or amending the charges because the available
evidence shows that a different crime was committed;
• confirm the charges and commit the case for trial; upon confirmation, the Presidency
of the Court constitutes a Trial Chamber responsible for the subsequent phase of the
proceedings: the trial.

53. Does the confirmation of charges prejudge the suspect’s guilt?

No. The purpose of the confirmation hearing is to safeguard the rights of suspects by
preventing proceedings with insufficient legal basis from being brought against them.
In the pre-trial phase, the Prosecutor must support each of the charges with sufficient
evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed the crimes
charged.

54. What happens after the confirmation of charges?

After the confirmation of charges, the Pre-Trial Chamber commits the case for trial before
a trial chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 29

Before the commencement of the trial, the judges of the Trial Chamber consider procedural
issues that may be submitted to them by the parties and hold hearings to prepare for trial
and to resolve procedural matters in order to facilitate the fair and expeditious conduct of
the proceedings.

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E. The trial

55. Where does the trial take place?

Unless otherwise decided, the trial takes place at the seat of the Court in The Hague. The
accused must be present at his or her trial, which is held in public, unless the Chamber
determines that certain proceedings be conducted in closed session in order to protect the
safety of victims and witnesses or the confidentiality of sensitive evidentiary material.

56. What happens at the commencement of the trial?

At the commencement of the trial, the Trial Chamber causes the charges against the
accused to be read out to him or her and asks whether he or she understands them. The
Chamber then asks the accused to make an admission of guilt or to plead not guilty.

57. What happens if the accused makes an admission of guilt?

First, the Trial Chamber ensures that the accused understands the nature and consequences
of the admission of guilt, that the admission is voluntarily made by the accused after
sufficient consultation with his or her lawyer and that the admission of guilt is supported
by the facts of the case that are contained in the evidence and charges brought by the
Prosecutor and admitted by the accused. Where the Trial Chamber is satisfied that these
conditions have been met, it may convict the accused of the crime charged. If it is not
satisfied that the conditions have been met, the Chamber shall consider the admission of
guilt as not having been made, in which case it shall order that the trial be continued.

58. How is the trial conducted?

At trial, the Prosecutor and Counsel for the Defence have the opportunity to present their
case. The Prosecutor must present evidence to the Court to prove that the accused person is
guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. This evidence may be in the form of documents, other
tangible objects, or witness statements. The Prosecutor must also disclose to the accused
any evidence which may show that he or she is innocent.

The Prosecutor presents his case first and calls his witnesses to testify. When the Prosecutor
has finished examining each witness, the Counsel for the Defence is given the opportunity
to also examine the witness.

Once the Prosecutor has presented all his evidence, it is the turn of the accused, with the
assistance of his or her counsel, to present his or her defence.

59. Who can present evidence?

All parties to the trial may present evidence relevant to the case. Everyone is presumed
innocent until proven guilty according to law. The Prosecutor has the burden of proving

Understanding the International Criminal Court 33

that the accused is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. The accused has the right to examine
the prosecution witnesses, and to call and examine witnesses on his or her own behalf
under the same conditions as prosecution witnesses.

When the personal interests of victims are affected, the Court allows their views and
concerns to be presented and considered at stages of the proceedings determined to be
appropriate by the Court and in a manner which is not prejudicial to or inconsistent with
the rights of the accused and a fair and impartial trial. Their views and concerns may be
presented by their legal representatives.

In a judgment rendered on 11 July, 2008, the Appeals Chamber granted victims the right
to lead evidence pertaining to the guilt or innocence of the accused and to challenge the
admissibility or relevance of evidence, although this right lies primarily with the parties,
namely the Prosecutor and the Defence. This right is subject to stringent conditions,
namely proving that the victims have a personal interest in doing so, and to the request’s
consistency with the rights of the defence and the requirements of a fair trial. Victims must
also comply with disclosure obligations, notify the request to the parties, and comply with
the Court’s orders on the protection of certain persons. Lastly, the appropriateness of the
victims’ request is subject to the judges’ assessment.

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Understanding the International Criminal Court 35
36
F. Judgment and sentence

Once the parties have presented their evidence, the Prosecutor and the Defence are invited
to make their closing statements. The Defence always has the opportunity to speak last.
The judges may order reparations to victims, including restitution, compensation and
rehabilitation. To this end, they may make an order directly against a convicted person (…)

60. When is the sentence pronounced by the Court?

After hearing the victims and the witnesses called to testify by the Prosecutor and the
Defence and considering the evidence, the judges decide whether the accused person is
guilty or not guilty.

The sentence is pronounced in public and, wherever possible, in the presence of the accused,
and victims or their legal representatives, if they have taken part in the proceedings.

61. What penalties may be imposed by the Court?

The judges may impose a prison sentence, to which may be added a fine or forfeiture of the
proceeds, property and assets derived directly or indirectly from the crime committed. The
Court cannot impose a death sentence. The maximum sentence is 30 years. However, in
extreme cases, the Court may impose a term of life imprisonment.

62. Where are the sentences served?

Convicted persons serve their prison sentences in a State designated by the Court from
a list of States which have indicated to the Court their willingness to accept convicted
persons.

The conditions of imprisonment are governed by the laws of the State of enforcement and
must be consistent with widely accepted international treaty standards governing the
treatment of prisoners. Such conditions may not be more or less favourable than those
available to prisoners convicted of similar offences in the State of enforcement.

G. Appeals and revision

63. When may a decision be appealed?

Any party may appeal the decisions of a Pre-Trial or Trial Chamber. The Prosecutor may
appeal against a conviction or acquittal on any of the following grounds: procedural error,
error of fact or error of law.

The convicted person or the Prosecutor may also appeal on any other ground that affects
the fairness or reliability of the proceedings or the decision, in particular on the ground of

Understanding the International Criminal Court 37

disproportion between the sentence and the crime.

The legal representatives of the victims, the convicted person, or a bona fide owner of
property adversely affected by an order for reparations to the victims may also appeal
against such an order.

The Appeals Chamber may reverse or amend the decision or conviction or order a new trial
before a different Trial Chamber.

64. Does the convicted person remain in custody pending an appeal?

Unless otherwise ordered by the Trial Chamber, a convicted person remains in custody
pending an appeal. However, in general, when a convicted person’s time in custody exceeds
the sentence of imprisonment imposed, the person is released. In addition, in the case of an
acquittal, the accused is released immediately unless there are exceptional circumstances.

65. When can a decision be revised?

The convicted person or the Prosecutor may apply to the Appeals Chamber to revise a final
judgment of conviction or sentence where:
• new and important evidence has been discovered;
• it has been newly discovered that decisive evidence, taken into account at trial and
upon which the conviction depends, was false, forged or falsified;
• one or more of the judges has committed an act of serious misconduct or serious
breach of duty of sufficient gravity to justify the removal of that judge or those judges
from office under the Rome Statute.

66. What happens if someone has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention?
Anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention has an enforceable right
to compensation. The Court can award compensation if a grave and manifest miscarriage
of justice is conclusively shown.

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Understanding the International Criminal Court 39
40
V. Victims and witnesses

67. Who is considered a victim before the ICC?

Victims are individuals who have suffered harm as a result of the commission of any crime
within the jurisdiction of the ICC. Victims may also include organisations or institutions
that have sustained harm to any of their property which is dedicated to religion, education,
art, science or charitable purposes.

The judges of the ICC determine the types of harm to be taken into account, such as bodily
harm, psychological harm, that is, where a person’s mind has been affected by what he or
she has experienced or witnessed, or material harm, which consists of loss of or damage to
goods or property.

68. What is the difference between a victim and a witness?

A victim is a person who has suffered harm as a result of the commission of a crime within
the jurisdiction of the ICC. A witness is a person who testifies before the Court.

Victims may be witnesses (but have no obligation to testify) and witnesses may also be
victims.

69. What are the rights of victims before the ICC?

Victims before the ICC have rights that have never before been granted before an
international criminal court. Victims may be involved in the proceedings before the ICC
in various ways:
• victims can send information to the Prosecutor and ask him to initiate an investigation;
• at a trial, a victim may voluntarily testify before the Court, if called as a witness for the
Defence or the Prosecution or other victims participating in the proceedings;
• victims are also entitled to participate in proceedings; during proceedings, victims
may participate by presenting their views and concerns to the judges; such participation
is voluntary and enables victims to express an opinion independently of the Prosecutor
or the Defence and offers them the opportunity to present their own concerns and
interests;
• victims participating in proceedings may also, in some circumstances, lead evidence
pertaining to the guilt or innocence of the accused; they may also challenge the
admissibility or the relevance of evidence presented by the parties;
• lastly, victims can seek reparation for the harm that they have suffered.

70. How can victims participate in the proceedings?

If the Court considers it appropriate, victims may present their point of view directly to the
judges at various stages in the proceedings. Such participation is generally through a legal

Understanding the International Criminal Court 41

representative (that is, a lawyer) who presents their views and concerns to the Court, since
criminal proceedings are quite complex.

To make it easy for victims to participate, they are required to fill out an application for
participation form. Victims may obtain a copy of the application for participation forms
from the Court’s website or from the Victims Participation and Reparations Section in The
Hague. The forms must be returned to the Victims Participation and Reparations Section
in The Hague by fax, email or post, using the information provided below.

Victims who wish to be assisted in filling out the form and sending it to the Court may
contact that same section.

The Victims Participation and Reparations Section at The Hague may be contacted at:

International Criminal Court

Victims Participation and Reparations Section
P.O. Box 19519
2500 CM, The Hague
The Netherlands
Fax: +31 (0) 70 515 9100
Email: vprsapplications@icc-cpi.int

71. Can all victims in a situation participate in the proceedings?

The judges review applications on a case-by-case basis and decide whether or not the
applicant is entitled to participate in proceedings before the ICC and at what stages.

72. How can victims find a legal representative?

Victims may freely choose their legal representative as long as the representative has the
necessary qualifications: he or she must possess ten years’ experience as judge, prosecutor
or lawyer in criminal proceedings and fluency in at least one of the working languages of
the Court (English or French). The ICC Registry helps victims to find a legal representative
by providing a list of qualified lawyers. At the Court, there is also an Office of Public
Counsel for Victims (OPCV) which can represent victims and provide them and their legal
representative with legal assistance.

If there are a large number of victims, the judges may ask them to choose one or more
common legal representatives. This is called common legal representation, and its purpose
is to ensure the effectiveness of the proceedings.

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73. Do victims have to travel to the seat of the Court in The Hague?
Generally, victims do not have to travel to the seat of the Court if they do not wish to do so.
Their legal representatives present their views and concerns to the Court.

74. What happens if the victims cannot afford a legal representative?

Although the Court has limited resources for legal assistance, it may be able to provide
some financial assistance. The Office of Public Counsel for Victims can also provide legal
assistance to victims without charge.

75. What is the role of the Office of Public Counsel for Victims?
The Office of Public Counsel for Victims provides legal support and assistance to victims
and their legal representatives at all stages of the proceedings, thus ensuring their effective
participation and the protection of their rights.

The OPCV falls within the remit of the Registry solely for administrative purposes, but
operates as a wholly independent office.

76. Does the Court protect all victims participating in proceedings?

The Victims and Witnesses Unit within the Registry may advise the Prosecutor and the
Court on appropriate protective measures and security arrangements for witnesses, victims
who appear before the Court and others who are at risk on account of testimony given by
witnesses. The Victims and Witnesses Unit implements protective and security measures
and arrangements for the above-mentioned persons.

In the course of their field work, all of the Court’s organs must adhere to good practices in
order to ensure their security and that of individuals who interact with them. Protective
measures may, for example, include anonymity for victims participating in proceedings,
the use of pseudonyms, the redaction of documents or the prohibition of disclosure thereof
and the use of audiovisual techniques which can disguise the identity of persons appearing
before the Court.

The Court also ensures that all these persons are provided with adequate protective and
security measures through long and short-term protection programmes.

77. What decisions may the judges take concerning reparations for victims at the
end of a trial?
At the end of a trial, the Trial Chamber may order a convicted person to pay compensation
to the victims of the crimes of which the person was found guilty. Reparations may include
monetary compensation, return of property, rehabilitation or symbolic measures such as
apologies or memorials.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 43

The Court may award reparations on an individual or collective basis, whichever is, in its
opinion, the most appropriate for the victims in the particular case. (…) An advantage
of collective reparations is that they provide relief to an entire community and help its
members to rebuild their lives, such as the building of victim services centres or the taking
of symbolic measures. Furthermore, States Parties to the Rome Statute have established a
Trust Fund for Victims of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC and for their families
in order to raise the funds necessary to comply with an order for reparations made by the
Court if the convicted person does not have sufficient resources to do so.

78. What is the role of the Trust Fund for Victims?

The Rome Statute created two independent institutions: the International Criminal Court
and the Trust Fund for Victims.

While it is impossible to fully undo the harm caused by genocide, war crimes, and crimes
against humanity, it is possible to help survivors, in particular, the most vulnerable among
them, rebuild their lives and regain their dignity and status as fully-functioning members
of their societies.

The Trust Fund for Victims advocates for victims and mobilises individuals, institutions
with resources, and the goodwill of those in power for the benefit of victims and their
communities. It funds or sets up innovative projects to meet victims’ physical, material,
or psychological needs. It may also directly undertake activities as and when requested by
the Court.

The Trust Fund for Victims can act for the benefit of victims of crimes, regardless of whether
there is a conviction by the ICC. It co-operates with the Court to avoid any interference
with ongoing legal proceedings.

79. Do victims have to first participate in the proceedings before they are entitled
to reparations?
No. A victim who has not participated in the proceedings may make an application for
reparations. The two applications are independent of each other. The Court may even
decide on its own to make an award for reparations.

80. Who can be a witness?

The Office of the Prosecutor, the Defence or victims participating in the proceedings can
ask experts, victims or any other person who has witnessed crimes to testify before the
Court. In this regard, the Court provides them with protection, counselling and other
appropriate assistance.

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81. What criteria does the Office of the Prosecutor use to select witnesses?
The Office of the Prosecutor selects witnesses based on the relevance of their testimony,
their reliability and their credibility.

82. How are witnesses protected?

In order to ensure the safety of witnesses who come to testify before the Court, the
Court provides administrative and logistical support and ensures that the experience of
testifying does not result in further harm, suffering or trauma for the witnesses. Protection
is not limited to physical protection of witnesses, but extends to the protection of their
psychological well-being, dignity and privacy, inasmuch as it is not prejudicial to or
inconsistent with the right of the accused to a fair trial.

For example, the Court may, on an exceptional basis, choose not to reveal their identity
to the press and public by holding part of the proceedings in closed session or by using
electronic or other special means to conceal the evidence in the courtroom. Special
attention is given to the particular needs of children, the elderly, persons with disabilities
and victims of sexual or gender violence.

Any measure proposed to protect a witness and, often, his or her family, must be
proportional to the risk and the least intrusive with respect to the well-being of the witness.
The protection system, regardless of the measure taken, is based on the principle of limiting
the exposure of a witness to threats, providing an appropriate response if required and, as a
last resort, shielding him or her from the threats. The very foundation of this system relies
on the adherence to established practices by all representatives of the Court who interact
with witnesses. These practices are meant to conceal a witness’s contact with the Court from
his or her family and friends, potential sources of threats and the public. These practices
are enhanced by an initial response system which enables the Court to extract witnesses
who are afraid of being targeted immediately or who have been targeted and take them to
a safe location in the field. A protective measure of last resort is placement in the Protection
Programme and subsequent relocation of the witness and his or her close relations away
from the source of the threat. With respect to the latter measure, the Registrar has to enter
into agreements with States which agree that persons under the Court’s protection may be
relocated to their territory.

83. Are other persons eligible for protection by the Court?

The ICC also ensures the security of persons mentioned in testimony and may, for example,
redact their names from witness statements.

While the texts governing the ICC do not impose any legal obligation on the Court to ensure
the protection of intermediaries as such, the Registry takes all possible and reasonable

Understanding the International Criminal Court 45

preventive measures to ensure that its interaction with individuals in the field (victims or
persons assisting them) does not put them at risk. This is done by implementing “good
practices” in all activities carried out by Court staff in the field and by advising and training
individuals and intermediary organisations which play an important and crucial role in
helping victims, with regard to protection practices that they themselves can implement to
mitigate risks. In the event of risk, Court documents may be redacted in order to keep the
intermediaries’ names confidential.

84. Are witnesses compelled to testify?

No. The Court does not compel a witness to appear before it to testify without his or her
consent.

85. How does the Court know that witnesses are not lying?
Various measures have been put in place to prevent false testimony. Before testifying, each
witness makes an undertaking to tell the truth. The judges have the authority to freely
assess all evidence submitted in order to determine its relevance or admissibility.

If a witness gives false testimony, the Court may sanction him or her by a term of
imprisonment not exceeding five years and/or by imposing a fine.

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Understanding the International Criminal Court 47
48
VI. Further information about the ICC

86. Where can I find further information about the ICC?

Further information about the Court can be found on its website at http://www.icc-cpi.int.
The site contains legal texts, Court rulings, situation and case related decisions, specific
information about the functions and mandates of the organs of the Court and about their
activities, hearing schedules, press releases and information for media representatives,
employment opportunities, internships and information about visiting programmes
organised by the Court.

87. In what languages is the information available?

In general, the information is available in English and French, which are the working
languages of the Court. Some documents are also available in Arabic, Chinese, Russian
and Spanish which, together with English and French, are the official languages of the
Court.

88. How can I visit the ICC for a briefing or attend a hearing?
The International Criminal Court welcomes to its seat in The Hague anyone who is
interested in its structure, its operations and the nature of its work.

To attend a briefing about the Court:

Individuals and groups wishing to attend a briefing about the Court are requested to fill out
the appropriate application form, which is available on the Court’s website at www.icc-cpi.
int/Menus/ICC/visits. Applications should be sent by email to visits@icc-cpi.int, or faxed
to +31 (0)70 515 8567, at least three weeks in advance for groups and two weeks in advance
for individual visits.

To attend a hearing:
ICC hearings are generally open to the public, unless the Chamber orders a closed session.
Interested persons are invited to go to the entrance of the Court (there is no need to fill out
a form beforehand). Any person entering the Court building will have to undergo security
checks and present valid identification (passport, identity card or driver’s licence).

In addition, all public hearings are broadcast on the Court’s website with a half-hour delay.
They can be accessed at www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/schedule.

For further information, please consult the hearing schedule. Also note that in the interests
of public order, minors under the age of sixteen are not allowed in the Court building.

Understanding the International Criminal Court 49

To contact us:

Public Information and Documentation Section

Registry, International Criminal Court
Maanweg 174
2516 AB, The Hague,
The Netherlands
Telephone: +31 (0) 70 515 8108
Fax: +31 (0) 70 515 8567
Email address: PublicAffairs.Unit@icc-cpi.int

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