e. International  Criminal Court
An international criminal court is considered the missing link in the interna- tional legal system for the reason that the International Court of Justice at The Hague handles only cases between States, not individuals. In the absence of an international criminal court for dealing with individual responsibility as an enforcement mechanism, acts of genocide and egregious violations of human rights often go unpunished. In the last 50 years, there have been many instances of crimes against humanity and war crimes for which no individual has been held accountable.
Following long and intense negotiations, in 1998 the United Nations adopted the “Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court”. Following the entry into force of the Statute, the Court will be established as a permanent institu- tion with the power to exercise its jurisdiction over persons for the most seri- ous crimes of international concern. The Court is meant to be complementary to national criminal jurisdictions.

According to article 126 of its final clauses, the Statute will “enter into force on the first day of the month after the 60th day following the date of the deposit of the 60th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or acces- sion with the Secretary-General of the United Nations”. As at March 2000, 7 States had ratified the Statute.
For further information see the website: http://www.un.org/law/icc/index.htm