On 17 July 1998, in Rome, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is adopted — the treaty creating the ICC, the first permanent court for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and, later, the crime of aggression.

The Statute defines jurisdiction, complementarity with national courts, defendants’ rights and the Prosecutor’s role. It was negotiated at the Rome Diplomatic Conference.

Entry into force: 1 July 2002, after 60 ratifications. The Court is seated in The Hague.

The instrument marks a leap in international criminal justice after the ad hoc tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

For international law, 17 July 1998 marks the legal birth of the International Criminal Court.

The official text is on the ICC site / United Nations Treaty Collection.

The Rome Statute of 17 July 1998 remains the founding act of the International Criminal Court.

Image: ICC / Rome; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Rome Statute. Treaty text: Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).