Understanding the International Criminal Court

30. When will the Court have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression?

The Court may exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, subject to a decision to be taken

after 1 January 2017 by a two-thirds majority of States Parties and subject to the ratification of the

amendment concerning this crime by at least 30 States Parties.

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Understanding the International Criminal Court

15

31. Under which conditions would the Court be able to exercise its jurisdiction over the 

crime of aggression?

The  Court  will  be  able  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  a  crime  of  aggression,  arising  from  an  act  of

aggression committed by a State Party, unless that State Party has previously declared that it does not

accept such jurisdiction.

Except when the situation is referred to the Court by the United Nations Security Council, the Court

has no jurisdiction over crimes of aggression committed in the territory of a State which is not party to

the Rome Statute or by its citizens.

The Court will have jurisdiction only over crimes of aggression committed one year after 30 States

Parties ratify or accept the amendments of the Rome Statute in relation with the crime of aggression,

which were adopted by the Assembly of States Parties in June 2010.