PART 1. Establishment of the court

• Author: International Criminal Court
• Pages: 2-2

2

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

PART 1.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COURT

Article 1

The Court

An Internat ional Crim inal Cour t (“the Court”) is her eby established. It shal l be a

permanent in stitution and shall have the power to e xercise its jurisdict ion over persons for

the most serious c rimes of international concer n, as referred to in this Stat ute, and shall be

complementary to nation al crim inal juri sdictions. T he jurisdic tion and func tioning of the

Court shal l be governed by the provisions of t his Statute.

Article 2

Relationship of the Court with the United Nations

The Court sha ll be brought into relationsh ip with the United Nations th rough an agreement

to be approved by the Assem bly of States Parties to this Stat ute and thereafter concluded by

the President of the Cour t on its behalf.

Article 3

Seat of the Court

1. The seat of the Court shall be established at The Hague in the Netherlands (“the host

State”).

2. The Court shall enter into a headquarters agreement with the host State, to be

approved by the Assembly of States Parties and thereafter concluded by the President

of the Court on its behalf.

3. The Court may sit elsewhere, whenever it considers it desirable, as provided in this

Statute.

Article 4

Legal status and powers of the Court

1. The Court shall have international legal personality. It shall also have such legal

capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulf‌ilment of its

purposes.

2. The Court may exercise its functions and powers, as provided in this Statute, on the

territory of any State Party and, by special agreement, on the territory of any other

State.