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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between ICC and ICJ?

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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):

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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):

  1. It is a civil court that hears disputes between countries.
  2. Established in 1946, it is the official court of the United Nations and is also known as the "World Court".
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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  • What is the Difference Between ICC and ICJ?
  • Comparative Table: ICC vs ICJ

    • 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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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.