What is the Difference Between ICC and ICJ?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are two distinct international courts with different functions and jurisdictions. Here are the main differences between them:
International Criminal Court (ICC):
- It is a criminal court that prosecutes individuals for the most serious international crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression.
- Established in 2002, it is an independent organization and not a part of the United Nations, although it may receive case referrals from the UN Security Council.
- The ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed after July 1, 2002, and in countries that are party to the Rome Statute or by the UN Security Council referral.
- It is a court of last resort, meaning it exercises its powers when a state's legal system collapses or when a government is the perpetrator of heinous international crimes.
International Court of Justice (ICJ):
- It is a civil court that hears disputes between countries.
- Established in 1946, it is the official court of the United Nations and is also known as the "World Court".
- The ICJ has jurisdiction over a wide range of matters, including sovereignty, boundary disputes, maritime disputes, trade, natural resources, human rights, treaty violations, and treaty interpretation.
- It settles legal disputes between UN member-states and provides advisory opinions on international law.
In summary, the ICC is a criminal court that prosecutes individuals for the most serious international crimes, while the ICJ is a civil court that hears disputes between countries and provides advisory opinions on international law.
Comparative Table: ICC vs ICJ
Here is a table comparing the differences between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ):
Feature | International Court of Justice (ICJ) | International Criminal Court (ICC) |
---|---|---|
Jurisdiction | All UN member states (193 countries) | Only member nations of the ICC (around 105 countries) |
Types of Cases | Contentious cases between states, advisory opinions | Criminal prosecution of individuals |
Subject Matter | Sovereignty, boundary disputes, maritime disputes, trade, natural resources, human rights, treaty violations, treaty interpretation, and more | Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of aggression |
Authorizing Legal Mechanism | States that ratify the UN Charter become parties to the ICJ Statute under Article 93 | ICC derives its authority from the Rome Statute, which was ratified and became executable in 2002 |
Relationship with UN | Official court of the UN, commonly referred to as the "World Court" | Independent, may receive case referrals from the UN Security Council, can initiate prosecutions without UN action or referral |
Established | 1946 | 2002 |
Headquarters | Peace Palace, Hague | Hague |
Composition | Composed of 15 judges elected for 9-year terms by the UN General Assembly and Security Council | Not specified in the search results |
Both the ICC and the ICJ are international courts based in The Hague, Netherlands, and share a common goal of facilitating international peace and cooperation. However, they differ in their jurisdiction, types of cases they handle, subject matter, authorizing legal mechanisms, and their relationship with the UN.
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