The traditional focus of International Law has been upon the rights and obligations of states while International Criminal Law regulates the conduct of individuals and also punishes those who commit heinous and barbaric crimes against others. The most prevalent of these crimes include genocide, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

After the end of World War II, the Allies tried Nazi leaders responsible for the massacre to demonstrate that such would not be permitted in future. In the absence of a permanent criminal court, ad hoc tribunals were established. Unfortunately, in the succeeding years, the world sustained atrocities without having recourse to any permanent global mechanism for the prevention and punishment of such crimes.

Consequently, a treaty establishing the International Criminal Court was adopted in Rome on July 17, 1998 at the Rome Conference. The court came into being on 1 July, 2002 as that was the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute entered into force and it can only prosecute crimes committed after that date.

Despite the courts various achievements, it still faces some challenges. These include the refusal of the United States to ratify its treaty, the non-cooperation of states that are not parties, lack of universal ratification of the Rome Statute and a host of others. In spite of all these, the International Criminal Court promises a lot because it seeks to deter other war criminals from committing inhumane crimes against others. The court is widely acknowledged as the missing link in the international legal system.

On the whole, this long essay seeks to examine the International Criminal Court, tracing its evolution from the post-World War II era to the establishment of

International Criminal Tribunals. The Courts achievements and also the challenges undermining its successes will be discussed.

Table of ContentCOVER PAGE
CERTIFICATION PAGE
ABSTRACT
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
TABLE OF CASES
TABLE OF STATUTES
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS



CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0.0: INTRODUCTION
1.1.0: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.2.0: OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
1.3.0: FOCUS OF STUDY
1.4.0: SCOPE OF STUDY
1.5.0: METHODOLOGY
1.6.0: LITERATURE REVIEW
1.7.0: DEFINITION OF TERMS
1.8.0: CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 2
AN EXAMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMES AND INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS
2.0.0: INTRODUCTION
2.1.0: INTERNATIONAL CRIMES
2.2.0: EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS
2.2.1.0: INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL (IMT)
2.2.1.1: INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL FOR THE FAR EAST (IMTFE)
2.2.1.2: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA (ICTY)
2.2.1.3: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDA (ICTR)
2.2.1.4: SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE
2.2.1.5: SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON
2.3.0: CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 3
AN OVERVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
3.0.0: INTRODUCTION 
3.1.0: THE ROME STATUTE
3.2.0: JURISDICTION OF THE COURT 
3.2.1.0: TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION
3.2.1.1: TEMPORAL JURISDICTION
3.2.1.2: COMPLEMENTARITY
3.3.0: MEMBERSHIP
3.4.0: STRUCTURE
3.4.1.0: THE PRESIDENCY
3.4.1.1: JUDICIAL DIVISIONS
3.4.1.2: OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR 
3.4.1.3: THE REGISTRY
3.5.0: PROCEDURES OF THE COURT
3.5.1.0: RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED
3.5.1.1: PARTICIPATION OF VICTIMS
3.5.1.2: REPARATION FOR VICTIMS
3.6.0: CO-OPERATION BY STATES THAT ARE NOT PARTIES TO ROME STATUTE
3.7.0: INVESTIGATIONS BY THE COURT
3.7.1.0: UGANDA
3.7.1.1.: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
3.7.1.2: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
3.7.1.3: SUDAN
3.7.1.4: KENYA
3.8.0: THE COURT AND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW
3.9.0: DOMESTICATION OF ROME STATUTE IN NIGERIA 
3.10.0: THE COURTS CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONAL LAW 
3.11.0: CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 4
ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES OF THE COURT
4.1.0: INTRODUCTION
4.2.0: ACHIEVEMENTS
4.3.0: CHALLENGES
4.4.0: CONCLUSION


CHAPTER 5
GENERAL CONCLUSION
5.0.0: CONCLUSION
5:1.0: RECOMMENDATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ARTICLES IN JOURNALS
ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET
BOOKS
NEWSPAPER REPORTS