The Local Impact of the International Criminal Court
From Law to Justice

An analysis of the local impact of the International Criminal Court in four countries: Afghanistan, Colombia, Libya and Uganda.

Marieke Wierda (Author)

9781009152747, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 July 2023

250 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.611 kg

The International Criminal Court seeks to end impunity for the world's worst crimes, to contribute to their prevention. But what is its impact to date? This book takes an in-depth look at four countries under scrutiny of the ICC: Afghanistan, Colombia, Libya, and Uganda. It puts forward an analytical framework to assess the impact of the ICC on four levels: on the domestic legal systems (systemic effect); on peace negotiations and agreements (transformative effect); on victims (reparative effect); and on the perceptions of affected populations (demonstration effect). It concludes that the ICC is having a normative impact on domestic legal systems and peace agreements, but it has brought little reparative justice for victims, and it does not necessarily correspond with how affected populations view justice priorities. The book concludes that justice for the world's worst crimes has no 'universal formula' that can easily be captured in law by one institution.

1. A framework for assessing the impact of the ICC
2. Systemic effect I: The flaws of complementarity
3. Systemic effect II: Internalization of the Rome statute
4. Transformative effect I: A paradigm shift in peace negotiations?
5. Transformative effect II: Peace negotiations in the shadow of the ICC
6. Societal impact I: Reparative effect for victims?
7. Societal impact II: Demonstration effect in affected communities
8. Conclusion: from law to justice
Annex A: Methodological note
Annex B: The current state of the international court.

Subject Areas: Criminal justice law [LNFB], Criminal law & procedure [LNF], Courts & procedure [LNAA], International courts & procedures [LBHG], International law [LB], International relations [JPS], Politics & government [JP], Social services & welfare, criminology [JK], Society & social sciences [J]