Politicization of the International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court was one of the greatest achievements in the long and protracted efforts to create an international rule of law and bring to justice the perpetrators of heinous crimes. Through its 10 years of existence however, the ICC has endured accusations of bias and favouritism threatening its credibility as an independent and impartial judicial institution. At the root of these allegations is Article 16 of the Rome Statute that establishes the ICC; this provision allows an unprecedented degree of political interference in the judicial processes of the Court by granting the UN Security Council (a political body) the power to suspend the Court processes 'in the interests of peace'. This books explores the legislative history of Article 16, its application so-far, the allegations of politicization that have arisen there-from and offers practical solutions to the resultant stalemate focussing on the source of the problem itself- the delicate and controversial Article 16. The ICC being the first and only permanent international penal court,is the anchor of international criminal justice- its existence is crucial therefore its image must remain untainted.