Who can bring a case to the International Criminal Court?

At the International Criminal Court (ICC), cases are not brought by private individuals or organizations. Instead, proceedings are initiated by an independent prosecutor who is elected by the Assembly of States Parties.1

The prosecutor may initiate a case in the following ways:

• At the request of a government: A state that has ratified the Rome Statute may request that the prosecutor investigate crimes within its jurisdiction.1
• At the request of the UN Security Council: The court may proceed with a case when authorized by the Security Council, which can extend the court's reach beyond the territory or nationals of states that have ratified the statute.1
• Independent action: The prosecutor may also initiate investigations independently, subject to judicial scrutiny by the Pre-Trial Chamber.1

It is important to distinguish the ICC from the International Court of Justice, which is a separate body that hears disputes between sovereign states rather than prosecuting individuals.23