International Criminal Court, Intergovernmental court in The Hague, Netherlands
The International Criminal Court is a judicial institution in The Hague handling cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, operating independently from the United Nations. The building houses courtrooms, administrative spaces and facilities for witnesses, all equipped to support lengthy international criminal trials.
The court opened in July 2002 following the entry into force of the Rome Statute, creating for the first time a permanent international criminal tribunal. Member states spent years negotiating the powers and limits of this new institution before it began its first investigations.
Visitors from many countries attend public hearings to observe how international criminal trials unfold in practice. The courtrooms are designed so that witnesses, defendants and lawyers can engage in a transparent process based on the principle that justice must be visible.
Visitors can attend public hearings near the Peace Palace after completing registration and passing through security checks. Seating in the gallery is limited, so it helps to check in advance when sessions are scheduled and whether they are open to the public.
The court intervenes only when national courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute serious international crimes. This complementary jurisdiction means the tribunal remains a last resort rather than automatically taking on every allegation brought before it.
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