Chapter 1. ICC Marks Five Years Since Entry Into Force Of Rome Statute

Five years ago the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered into force, ushering in a new era of accountability for international crimes. The entry into force of the Rome Statute in 2002 marked the transition of the ICC from an idea to a reality. Today, the ICC is a fully-functioning judicial institution focused on its core activities of investigating and conducting trials of individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The ICC can have a truly global reach through universal ratification of the Rome Statute. 104 countries have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute since it opened for signature in 1998. The first years of the ICC have highlighted the importance of cooperation in different regards. The ICC has had a significant early positive impact going beyond its investigations and prosecutions. Keywords: International Criminal Court (ICC); judicial institution; Rome Statute; war crimes