Guided by the principles of the Rome Statute set out 25 years ago in 1998, today the International Criminal Court (ICC) (pictured) conducts fair trials, upholds defendants' rights, protects witnesses, and ensures victims' voices are heard.

ICC cases have addressed crimes including using child soldiers, murder, rape, attacks on civilians, attacks on cultural heritage, and more. In cases ending in conviction, Judges ordered reparations for victims.

With support from over 120 States Parties, the Rome Statute system is making justice happen, helping rebuild people's lives, and forging a path to stability and lasting peace.

Together, we can build a more just world.

Timeline of events

Rome, 1998

Countries worldwide adopted the Rome Statute 25 years ago. The treaty aims to bring to justice perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, and to help prevent such crimes.

2002

The Rome Statute entered into force in 2002, establishing the world's first permanent International Criminal Court (ICC), with jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The dream of global justice was being put into practice in a court of law.

Kampala 2010

At the Rome Statute's First Review Conference in Kampala in 2010, countries adopted important amendments on the definition and jurisdiction related to crimes of aggression.

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ICC By the Numbers

To date, the Court has had:

• 17 investigations across 4 continents
• 53 defendants in over 30 cases
• 2 500+ hearings
• 130 000+ survivors supported by Trust Fund for Victims programmes
• 23 languages used in Courtroom
• 2 500 victims who received Court-ordered reparations
• 10 900 victims who participated in Court proceedings

Learn more about this topic

Follow this link to the topic page to learn more about the EU's support for International Criminal Justice.