The International Criminal Court (ICC) has not been able to pass an amendment that would expand its powers regarding investigations of world leaders over crimes of aggression.
A crime of aggression is considered the most serious offense under the Rome Statute, which established the court. Currently, the ICC can prosecute heads of state over war crimes and genocide, but in order for it to launch proceedings over the crime of aggression, the Kampala amendments of 2010, which define the body’s jurisdiction in the area, must be ratified by all sides of a conflict. So far, they have been backed by just 41 of the 125 members of the court.
The ICC held a special session at the UN headquarters in New York from Monday to Wednesday to decide on the harmonization amendment, which was proposed by Germany, Costa Rica, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, and Vanuatu. It calls for the court to be allowed to initiate crime of aggression investigations if at least one of the warring parties has backed the Kampala amendments.
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