The ICC was created by the Rome Statute which came into force on 1 July 2002 and is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Individuals will only be prosecuted for crimes against aggression as from 2017.
To date 122 are party to the Statute of the Court.
This includes all of South America, nearly all of Europe, most of Oceania and roughly half the countries in Africa.
Its proceedings may take place anywhere, although the Court is based in the in The Hague, Netherlands.
It is intended to complement existing national judicial systems.
It may however only exercise its jurisdiction when national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute such crimes.
So far to date, most of the ICC’s cases are from African countries.
Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment by the ICC for his part in the Liberian/Sierra Leonean war, last year.
At present before the court is the case of Kenya’s new deputy president, as well as Kenya’s new president, Uhuru Kenyatta. His case follows in November.
Both are charged with crimes against humanity for violence that took place in the 2007 Kenyan elections.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is doing everything possible to stop the trials in Europe of Kenya’s leaders.
Although there are many instances of human rights abuses world-wide, many have complained that Africans are being targeted.
Or is it perhaps that Africa is more violent than any other place in the world?
What are your thoughts?