Editing International Criminal Court (section)

==Structure==
<!-- [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]] links to this section -->
The ICC is governed by the Assembly of States Parties, which is made up of the states that are party to the Rome Statute.<ref name="assembly">{{cite web |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/asp.html |title=Assembly of States Parties |access-date=3 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118093007/http://www.icc-cpi.int/asp.html |archive-date=18 January 2008 |author=International Criminal Court}}</ref> The Assembly elects officials of the Court, approves its budget, and adopts amendments to the Rome Statute. The Court itself has four organs: the Presidency, the Judicial Divisions, the Office of the Prosecutor, and the Registry.<ref name="structure">{{cite web |author=International Criminal Court |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/ |title=Structure of the Court |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813235740/http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court |archive-date=13 August 2010 |access-date=16 June 2012}}</ref>

===State parties===
{{main|States parties to the Rome Statute}}

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{{ICC member states}}<!-- this template contains the text of this section to edit [[template:ICC member states]]-->

====Assembly====
<!-- [[Judges of the International Criminal Court]] links to this section -->
<!-- [[Assembly of States Parties]] redirects here -->
The Court's management oversight and legislative body, the Assembly of States Parties, consists of one representative from each state party.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 112}} Each state party has one vote and "every effort" has to be made to reach [[Consensus decision-making|decisions by consensus]].<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 112}} If consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by vote.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 112}} The Assembly is presided over by a [[List of Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court|president and two vice-presidents]], who are elected by the members to three-year terms.

The Assembly meets in full session once a year, alternating between New York and [[The Hague]], and may also hold special sessions where circumstances require.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 112}} Sessions are open to observer states and non-governmental organizations.<ref>{{cite web |author=Amnesty International |date=11 November 2007 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/international-justice/issues/international-criminal-court/assembly-states-parties |title=Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811084858/http://amnesty.org/en/international-justice/issues/international-criminal-court/assembly-states-parties |archive-date=11 August 2014 |access-date=2 January 2008}}</ref>

The Assembly elects the judges and [[prosecutor]]s, decides the Court's budget, adopts important texts (such as the Rules of Procedure and Evidence), and provides management oversight to the other organs of the Court.<ref name=assembly/><ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 112}} Article 46 of the Rome Statute allows the Assembly to remove from office a judge or prosecutor who "is found to have committed serious misconduct or a serious breach of his or her duties" or "is unable to exercise the functions required by this Statute".<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 46}}

The states parties cannot interfere with the judicial functions of the Court.<ref name="iccnow-asp">{{cite web |author=Coalition for the International Criminal Court |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212164725/http://www.iccnow.org/?mod=asp |url=https://www.iccnow.org/index.html%3Fmod=asp.html |archive-date=12 December 2007 |title=Assembly of States Parties |access-date=2 January 2008}}</ref> Disputes concerning individual cases are settled by the Judicial Divisions.<ref name=iccnow-asp/>

In 2010, Kampala, Uganda hosted the Assembly's Rome Statute Review Conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/eCache/DEF/10/054.TGFuZz1FTg.html |title=Uganda to host Rome Statute Review Conference |website=The Hague Justice Portal |access-date=5 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118064158/http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/eCache/DEF/10/054.TGFuZz1FTg.html |archive-date=18 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Organs ===
The Court has four organs: the Presidency, the Judicial Division, the Office of the Prosecutor, and the Registry.

====Presidency====
{{Main|Presidency of the International Criminal Court}}
<!-- Infobox at top of article links to this section -->
[[File:Song Sang-Hyun - Trento 2014 01.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Song Sang-hyun]] was President of the Court from 2009 to 2015.]]
The [[President of the International Criminal Court|Presidency]] is responsible for the proper administration of the Court (apart from the Office of the Prosecutor).<ref name="presidency">{{cite web |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/structure%20of%20the%20court/presidency/Pages/the%20presidency.aspx |title=The Presidency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721163652/http://icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/structure%20of%20the%20court/presidency/Pages/the%20presidency.aspx |archive-date=21 July 2014}}.</ref> It comprises the President and the First and Second Vice-Presidents—three judges of the Court who are elected to the Presidency by their fellow judges for a maximum of two three-year terms.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 38}}

As of March 2024, the President is [[Tomoko Akane]] from [[Japan]], who took office on 11 March 2024, succeeding [[Piotr Hofmański]]. Her first term will expire in 2027.<ref name="New ICC Presidency elected for 2024-2027">{{cite press release |url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/new-icc-presidency-elected-2024-2027 |publisher=International Criminal Court |title=New ICC Presidency elected for 2024–2027 |date=11 March 2024}}</ref>

====Judicial Division====
{{Main|Judges of the International Criminal Court}}
The Judicial Divisions consist of the 18 judges of the Court, organized into three chambers—the Pre-Trial Chamber, Trial Chamber and Appeals Chamber — which carry out the judicial functions of the Court.<ref name="chambers">{{cite web |author=International Criminal Court |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/organs/chambers.html |title=Chambers |access-date=21 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070718171951/http://www.icc-cpi.int/organs/chambers.html |archive-date=18 July 2007}}</ref> Judges are elected to the Court by the Assembly of States Parties.<ref name=chambers/> They serve nine-year terms and are not generally eligible for re-election.<ref name=chambers/> All judges must be nationals of states parties to the Rome Statute, and no two judges may be nationals of the same state.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 36}} They must be "persons of high moral character, impartiality and integrity who possess the qualifications required in their respective States for appointment to the highest judicial offices".<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 36}}

The Prosecutor or any person being investigated or prosecuted may request the disqualification of a judge from "any case in which his or her impartiality might reasonably be doubted on any ground".<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 41}} Any request for the disqualification of a judge from a particular case is decided by an absolute majority of the other judges.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 41}} Judges may be removed from office if "found to have committed serious misconduct or a serious breach of his or her duties" or is unable to exercise his or her functions.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 46}} The removal of a judge requires both a two-thirds majority of the other judges and a two-thirds majority of the states parties.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 46}}

====Office of the Prosecutor====
{{Main|Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court}}
[[File:Fatou Bensouda5.jpg|thumb|ICC prosecutors [[Fatou Bensouda]] and [[Luis Moreno Ocampo]], with [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Estonia)|Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs]], [[Urmas Paet]], in 2012]]
The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) is responsible for conducting investigations and prosecutions.<ref name="prosecutor">{{cite web |author=International Criminal Court |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/organs/otp.html |title=Office of the Prosecutor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119102802/http://www.icc-cpi.int/organs/otp.html |archive-date=19 January 2008 |access-date=21 July 2007}}</ref> It is headed by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who is assisted by one or more Deputy Prosecutors.<ref name="structure" /> The Rome Statute provides that the Office of the Prosecutor shall act independently;<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 42}} as such, no member of the Office may seek or act on instructions from any external source, such as states, [[international organisation]]s, non-governmental organisations or individuals.<ref name="prosecutor" />

The Prosecutor may open an investigation under three circumstances:<ref name="prosecutor" />
* when a situation is referred by a state party;
* when a situation is referred by the [[United Nations Security Council]], acting to address a threat to international peace and security; or
* when the Pre-Trial Chamber authorises the prosecutor to open an investigation on the basis of information received from other sources, such as individuals or non-governmental organisations.

Any person being investigated or prosecuted may request the disqualification of a prosecutor from any case "in which their impartiality might reasonably be doubted on any ground".<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 42}} Requests for the disqualification of prosecutors are decided by the Appeals Chamber.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 42}} A prosecutor may be removed from office by an absolute majority of the states parties through a finding "to have committed serious misconduct or a serious breach of his or her duties" or is unable to exercise his or her functions.<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 46}} One critic said there are "insufficient checks and balances on the authority of the ICC prosecutor and judges" and "insufficient protection against politicized prosecutions or other abuses".<ref name="US DoS faq">{{cite web |author=US Department of State |date=30 July 2003 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions About the U.S. Government's Policy Regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) |access-date=1 January 2007}}</ref> [[Luis Moreno Ocampo|Luis Moreno-Ocampo]], chief ICC prosecutor, stressed in 2011 the importance of politics in prosecutions: "You cannot say al-Bashir is in London, arrest him. You need a political agreement."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=LeBor |first1=Adam |editor1-last=Brûlé |editor1-first=Tyler |title=Don't Judge |journal=Monocle |date=September 2011 |volume=05 |issue=46 |pages=48–49 |publisher=Winkontent Ltd. |location=Midori House, London |issn=1753-2434 |quote=cases are not the same, says Moreno-Ocampo. Arresting a head of state is more than a police matter. "You cannot say al-Bashir is in London, arrest him. You need a political agreement and a broad set of actors."}}</ref> [[Henry Kissinger]] says the checks and balances are so weak that the prosecutor "has virtually unlimited discretion in practice".<ref name="Kissinger">{{cite news |author=Henry A. Kissinger |title=The Pitfalls of Universal Jurisdiction |magazine=[[Foreign Affairs]] |issue=July/August 2001 |page=95 |doi=10.2307/20050228 |jstor=20050228}}</ref>

Lead prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo of [[Argentina]], in office from 2003 to 2012, was succeeded in the role by [[Fatou Bensouda]] of [[Gambia]], who served from 16 June 2012 to 16 June 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/0E0A4EE7-6C79-4FA1-85CB-4752DEEC1488.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803032040/http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/0E0A4EE7-6C79-4FA1-85CB-4752DEEC1488.htm |archive-date=2012-08-03 |title=The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute opens its tenth session |author=International Criminal Court |date=14 December 2011}}</ref> (she was elected to the nine-year term on 12 December 2011).<ref name="prosecutor" />

On 12 February 2021, British barrister [[Karim Ahmad Khan|Karim Khan]] was selected in a secret ballot against three other candidates to serve as lead prosecutor as of 16 June 2021. As British barrister, Khan had headed the United Nations' special investigative team when it looked into [[Islamic State]] crimes in Iraq. At the ICC, he had been lead defense counsel on cases from Kenya, Sudan and Libya.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=Michelle|last2=van den Berg|first2=Stephanie|date=13 February 2021|title=Britain's Karim Khan elected International Criminal Court prosecutor|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-warcrimes-icc-prosecutor/britains-karim-khan-elected-international-criminal-court-prosecutor-idUSKBN2AC2HO?il=0|access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref>

=====Policy papers=====
The Office of the Prosecutor occasionally publishes policy papers that put forth the considerations given to topics the office focuses on, and often the criteria for case selection.<ref>
{{cite web|title=Office of the Prosecutor|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/otp/Pages/otp-policies.aspx|website=Icc-cpi.int|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011230702/https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/otp/Pages/otp-policies.aspx|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}
</ref> While a policy paper does not give the Court jurisdiction over a new category of crimes, it promises what the Office of Prosecutor will consider when selecting cases in the upcoming term of service. OTP's policy papers are subject to revision.<ref>
{{cite web|last1=S|first1=Barrie|title=Is the ICC Reconsidering its Policy on the 'Interests of Justice'?|url=https://justiceinconflict.org/2016/09/29/is-the-icc-reconsidering-its-policy-on-the-interests-of-justice/|website=Justice in Conflict|access-date=11 October 2016|date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011223856/https://justiceinconflict.org/2016/09/29/is-the-icc-reconsidering-its-policy-on-the-interests-of-justice/|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}
</ref>

The following papers have been published since the start of the ICC:
* 1 September 2007: Policy Paper on the Interest of Justice<ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=otp-policy-int-just|title=Policy Paper on the Interest of Justice|website=Icc-cpi.int|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011230533/https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=otp-policy-int-just|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}
</ref>
* 12 April 2010: Policy Paper on Victims' Participation<ref>
{{cite web|title=Policy Paper on Victims' Participation|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=otp-policy-vic-part|website=Icc-cpi.int|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011225556/https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=otp-policy-vic-part|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}
</ref>
* 1 November 2013: Policy Paper on Preliminary Examinations<ref>
{{cite web|title=Policy Paper on Preliminary Examinations|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=otp-policy-pe-11_2013|website=Icc-cpi.int|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011225207/https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=otp-policy-pe-11_2013|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}
</ref>
* 20 June 2014: Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes<ref>
{{cite web|title=Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=policy-paper-on-sexual-and-gender-based-crimes-05-06-2014|website=Icc-cpi.int|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011230852/https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=policy-paper-on-sexual-and-gender-based-crimes-05-06-2014|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}
</ref>
* 15 September 2016: Policy paper on case selection and prioritisation<ref>
{{cite web|title=Policy paper on case selection and prioritisation|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=policy-paper-on-case-selection-and-prioritisation|website=Icc-cpi.int|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011225902/https://www.icc-cpi.int//Pages/item.aspx?name=policy-paper-on-case-selection-and-prioritisation|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}
</ref>
* 15 November 2016: Policy on Children<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=161115-otp-policy-children|title=Policy on Children|website=icc-cpi.int|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>

The paper published in September 2016 announced that the ICC will focus on environmental crimes when selecting cases.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vidal|first1=John |last2=Bowcott|first2=Owen|title=ICC widens remit to include environmental destruction cases |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/sep/15/hague-court-widens-remit-to-include-environmental-destruction-cases|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=20 September 2016|date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920220935/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/sep/15/hague-court-widens-remit-to-include-environmental-destruction-cases|archive-date=20 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The Office will give particular consideration to prosecuting Rome Statute crimes that are committed by means of, or that result in, "inter alia, the destruction of the environment, the illegal exploitation of natural resources or the illegal dispossession of land".<ref>{{cite web|title=Policy Paper on Case Selection and Prioritisation|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/itemsDocuments/20160915_OTP-Policy_Case-Selection_Eng.pdf |website=Icc-cpi.int|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923015147/https://www.icc-cpi.int/itemsDocuments/20160915_OTP-Policy_Case-Selection_Eng.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> This has been interpreted as a major shift in environmental law<ref>{{cite web|title=International court to prosecute environmental crimes in major shift|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-landrights-icc-idUSKCN11L2F9|website=Reuters.com|access-date=12 October 2016 |date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012232041/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-landrights-icc-idUSKCN11L2F9|archive-date=12 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vidal|first1=John |last2=Bowcott|first2=Owen|title=ICC widens remit to include environmental destruction cases |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/sep/15/hague-court-widens-remit-to-include-environmental-destruction-cases|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=12 October 2016|date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012073943/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/sep/15/hague-court-widens-remit-to-include-environmental-destruction-cases|archive-date=12 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and a move with significant effects.<ref>{{cite news|title=Is environmental destruction a crime against humanity? The ICC may be about to find out. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/16/is-environmental-destruction-a-crime-against-humanity-the-icc-may-be-about-to-find-out/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=12 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012230743/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/16/is-environmental-destruction-a-crime-against-humanity-the-icc-may-be-about-to-find-out/|archive-date=12 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CEOs can now be tried in The Hague like war criminals |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/ceos-hague-international-law-tried-environmental-crimes-icc-a7315866.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]]|access-date=12 October 2016 |date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012232913/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/ceos-hague-international-law-tried-environmental-crimes-icc-a7315866.html|archive-date=12 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Registry====
The Registry is responsible for the non-judicial aspects of the administration and servicing of the Court.<ref name="registry">
International Criminal Court. [https://archive.today/20110616151431/http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/Go?id=6a4167ac-ca17-403d-928b-b2c36bb85ab4&lan=en-GB.html ''The Registry'']. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
</ref> This includes, among other things, 
{{blockquote|The administration of legal aid matters, court management, victims and witnesses matters, defence counsel, detention unit, and the traditional services provided by administrations in international organisations, such as finance, translation, building management, procurement and personnel.<ref name=registry/>}}
The Registry is headed by the Registrar, who is elected by the judges to a five-year term.<ref name=structure/> As of April 2023 the Registrar is [[Osvaldo Zavala Giler]].<ref name=osvaldo>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/registry/who-s-who/osvaldo-zavala-giler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607074608/https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/registry/who-s-who/osvaldo-zavala-giler |title=Osvaldo Zavala Giler |publisher=International Criminal Court |archive-date=7 June 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of Registrars of the ICC
|-
! Registrar !! Term !! Reference
|-
| [[Bruno Cathala]] || 2003–2008 || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2003/bio3506.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929112604/https://unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2003/bio3506.html |title=BRUNO CATHALA OF FRANCE ELECTED REGISTRAR OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT |publisher=United Nations Information Service Vienna |date=26 June 2003 |archive-date=29 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
| [[Silvana Arbia]] || 2008–2013 || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/Registry/The+Registrar/The+Registrar.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709063144/http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/Registry/The+Registrar/The+Registrar.htm |title=The Registrar |publisher=International Criminal Court |archive-date=9 July 2009}}</ref>
|-
| [[Herman von Hebel]] || 2013–2018 || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/structure%20of%20the%20court/registry/the%20registrar/Pages/the%20registrar.aspx| title=The registrar| publisher=International Criminal Court |access-date=17 August 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131101182755/http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/structure%20of%20the%20court/registry/the%20registrar/Pages/the%20registrar.aspx|archive-date=1 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Peter Lewis (prosecutor)|Peter Lewis]] || 2018–2023 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=pr1374|title=Peter Lewis elected as ICC Registrar|website=icc-cpi.int|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Osvaldo Zavala Giler]] || 2023–present || <ref name=osvaldo/>
|}