International Justice Day
This day was established by the United Nations and commemorates the Rome Statute of July 17, 1998. It laid the foundation for the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Organizations like Amnesty International use the day to draw global attention to human rights violations.
How many people have been convicted by the ICC, and how many of those sentences have been enforced?
In its history to date, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued final convictions against a total of 13 individuals, with all 10 enforceable prison sentences having been fully served or currently being served. Currently, more than 30 publicly indicted individuals remain at large (including prominent arrest warrants such as the one against Vladimir Putin).
George W. Bush and Benjamin Netanyahu?
The ICC is only allowed to investigate in countries that have signed the Rome Statute or if the UN Security Council refers a situation to it. Consequently, there was never a case or arrest warrant against US presidents like George W. Bush, because the US does not recognize the court. An arrest warrant was issued against Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2024. He is therefore officially wanted (fugitive), but not convicted.
In which states does the arrest warrant apply, and does he travel to such states despite it? And I see no American, German, or other war criminals. How can that be? There are several war crimes in which many states were and are involved.
In April 2025, Netanyahu traveled to Hungary for a state visit despite the arrest warrant. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had guaranteed him immunity in advance and declared the ICC decision invalid. During the visit, Hungary theatrically announced its withdrawal from the ICC to circumvent the warrant. Flights to non-member states: He continues to travel to countries that do not recognize the ICC, such as the USA.
How many have been convicted by the ICC, and how many sentences have been enforced?
The ICC in The Hague has issued final convictions against a total of 13 individuals, with all 10 enforceable prison sentences having been fully served or currently being served.
The Court's official statistics break down as follows
Convictions in detail – Core crimes (international criminal law):
Of the 13 convictions, 7 relate to core crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- All convicted persons were African militia leaders and rebels (e.g., from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Uganda).
Offenses against the administration of justice:
The remaining 6 convictions involved ancillary offenses such as witness tampering and bribery during ongoing proceedings (under Article 70 of the Rome Statute).
Enforcement of the sentences?
The Court does not have its own prison for serving sentences, so convicted persons serve their time in partner states that have concluded agreements with the ICC.
The enforcement of these sentences is considered very successful:
- 7 people have fully served their prison sentences and have been released.
- 3 people are currently serving their sentences.
- 3 people received fines or suspended sentences (mainly in witness-tampering cases), where no classic imprisonment was required.
The biggest problem: Fugitive suspects
While the sentences handed down are consistently enforced, the ICC's main problem lies with those who have never been caught at all. Since the Court has no police force of its own, it relies on the cooperation of states. Currently, more than 30 publicly indicted individuals remain at large (including prominent arrest warrants such as the one against Vladimir Putin).
Currently, more than 30 publicly indicted individuals remain at large.
That must be far more. List all convicted persons: also Bush, Netanyahu, etc.?
The ICC in The Hague has to date issued final convictions against exactly 13 people.
Prominent politicians like George W. Bush or Benjamin Netanyahu are not among those convicted.
If the number of fugitives (around 32) seems low to you, this is due to a legal misunderstanding: The ICC may only investigate in countries that have signed the Rome Statute, or if the UN Security Council refers a case to it.
- Against US presidents like George W. Bush, there was never a case or arrest warrant, as the US does not recognize the Court.
- Against Benjamin Netanyahu, an arrest warrant was issued in November 2024. He is therefore officially wanted (fugitive), but not convicted.
Who is currently a fugitive (wanted top politicians)?
Individuals are placed on the ICC's official wanted list as soon as an arrest warrant exists but they cannot be taken into custody.
The most well-known among the currently roughly 32 fugitives are:
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Netanyahu | Prime Minister of Israel | Wanted for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip (since Nov. 2024) |
| Yoav Gallant | Former Defense Minister of Israel | Also wanted via arrest warrant since November 2024 |
| Vladimir Putin | President of Russia | Wanted for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia (since March 2023) |
| Omar al-Bashir | Ex-President of Sudan | Wanted for genocide in Darfur (fugitive since 2009) |
| Joseph Kony | Uganda, leader of the LRA rebel army | Fugitive since 2005 – the longest-standing case |
| Saif al-Islam Gaddafi | Son of the former Libyan dictator | Wanted for crimes against humanity since 2011 |
In which states does the arrest warrant against Netanyahu apply, and does he travel to these states despite it? And I see no American, German, or other war criminals. How can that be? There are several war crimes in which many states were and are involved.
The arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu applies legally in all 124 member states of the ICC that have signed the Rome Statute. These include all EU countries (including Germany), Canada, Australia, all of South America, and large parts of Africa.
In April 2025, Netanyahu traveled to Hungary despite the warrant. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had guaranteed him immunity in advance and declared the ICC decision invalid. During the visit, Hungary theatrically announced its withdrawal from the ICC to circumvent the warrant.
In countries that do not recognize the ICC, such as the USA, Netanyahu continues to travel. The US never ratified the Rome Statute. Under George W. Bush, the "American Service-Members' Protection Act" was even enacted. This law theoretically authorizes the US President to use military force to free US citizens if they were ever detained in The Hague (popularly known as the "Invade-The-Hague-Act").
Is the ICC then nothing more than symbolism and thus a lie?
The justice of the victors and the powerful
Because the USA, China, and Russia do not recognize the Court and can block everything in the UN Security Council, the ICC de facto protects the most powerful nuclear powers in the world from prosecution.
No enforcement power of its own
The ICC has no police officers or soldiers of its own. If a state like Hungary refuses to enforce an arrest warrant, or a country like the USA threatens the judges with sanctions, the Court stands powerless.
Focus on weaker states
For years, almost exclusively African warlords were convicted. This earned the Court accusations of neocolonialism, as Western crimes (such as in the Iraq War) went unpunished.
Jan Klein | bit.rf.gd
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