The Role of International Criminal Court in the Development and Protection of Human Rights

International Criminal Law (ICL) and Human Rights Law are distinct but related branches of law which emerge out of the practice needs of specialization, rather the intentional creation of distinct regimes. The ICL contributes to the fight against impunity and the establishment of the international peace by ensuring that the most severe crimes do not go unpunished. The ICL is a subset of international law and its sources are those that comprise international law. During the last century, the global community was faced with the challenge of rebuilding a world torn apart due to the Second World War. In the aftermath of war, international community coalesced around the idea of a permanent court to hold perpetrators to account for the world’s most serious crimes. This vision materialized when States adopted a multilateral treaty called the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It is noteworthy that the Rome Statute and the ICC have made particular advances in combating impunity and protecting human rights. It is obvious that without such a mechanism for enforcement, the treaties serve only as a reminder of the importance of rights. The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of International Criminal Court in the development and protection of human rights.