Arts & Culture
The Principle of Complementarity in International Criminal Law
Quick fact
The ICC cannot hear a case if any country with jurisdiction is already handling it—unless that country is unwilling or unable to do so genuinely. This means that the Court's own rules make it a 'backup court' rather than a primary enforcer.
Why this is interesting
You might think the International Criminal Court is the world's supreme court for atrocities. But its real power is far more conditional—and that's the key to understanding how it works.