The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 with the mandate to prosecute individuals for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. While the ICC operates independently of the United Nations, it is endorsed by the UN General Assembly and maintains a cooperation agreement with the UN. In cases where the ICC lacks jurisdiction, the UN Security Council can refer those cases to the court.
The ICC has the authority to investigate alleged crimes committed on the territory or by nationals of any state that has ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC. Member states can request the ICC's prosecutor to initiate an investigation. Currently, more than 120 countries are signatories to the Rome Statute, although notable absences include Israel, the United States, Russia, China, and India.
