The primary difference between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations (UN) is that the ICC is an independent judicial body, while the UN is an intergovernmental organization with a broad mandate. The ICC is not part of the UN system.
Here's a breakdown of the key distinctions:
ICC: The International Criminal Court
- Purpose: Prosecutes individuals for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
- Nature: A permanent, independent court. It is not part of the UN system.
- Establishment: Established by the Rome Statute, an international treaty.
- Relationship to UN: While the Rome Statute was negotiated within the UN, the ICC operates independently. The UN Security Council can refer cases to the ICC.
- Focus: Judicial, focused on individual criminal accountability.
UN: The United Nations
- Purpose: To maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
- Nature: An intergovernmental organization, meaning it's made up of member states.
- Establishment: Established by the UN Charter.
- Relationship to ICC: The UN is not directly related to the ICC in terms of structure, but the Security Council can refer cases to the ICC.
- Focus: Broad, encompassing political, economic, social, humanitarian, and security issues.
| Feature | International Criminal Court (ICC) | United Nations (UN) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Independent Judicial Body | Intergovernmental Organization |
| Membership | States party to the Rome Statute | Member States |
| Focus | Individual criminal accountability for grave crimes | International peace, security, and cooperation |
| Establishment | Rome Statute | UN Charter |
| Part of UN System? | No | Yes, the core organization of the UN system |
| Key Function | Prosecution of individuals | Promoting cooperation, maintaining peace & security |
In essence, the ICC is a court established to hold individuals accountable for specific egregious crimes, operating separately from the UN, which is a broader organization working to address global challenges through cooperation among its member states. Although the Rome Statute (the treaty establishing the ICC) was negotiated under the auspices of the UN, the ICC remains an independent body.
