Arguably the most significant international organization to be created since the United Nations, the International Criminal Court ushers in a new era in the protection of human rights. The direct descendant of the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials, as well as those of the more recent international criminal tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the International Criminal Court will prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes when national justice systems are either unwilling or unable to do so themselves. This new book reviews the history of international criminal prosecution, the drafting of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the principles of its operation, including the scope of its jurisdiction and the procedural regime. Three of the Court's fundamental documents - the 1998 Rome Statute itself, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and the Elements of Crimes - are reproduced in the Appendix. Indispensable for students and practitioners.

‘Professor Schabas has adopted an approach that allows the reader to easily benefit from his extensive research and experience … By referring to the history of the crimes and procedures and the specific debates on the Rome statute, Professor Schabas has provided the reader with a valuable introduction to an international institution in the making.’

Source: Australian International Law Journal

‘In writing this book Schabas has set for himself the goal of providing a ‘succinct and coherent introduction to the legal issues involved in the creation and operation of the ICC’ (p. viii) and in the opinion of this reviewer he has succeeded in his endeavour.’

Source: Indian Journal of International Law

'Professor Shabas, who is an expert on international human rights and criminal law, has written a clearly structured and very useful book on the International Criminal Court, the topicality of which is increased by the fact that the Statute of this body has recently come into force. The book is characterised by a concise and attractive style, and its purchase can be recommended to all those interested in its subject matter.'

Source: International and Comparative Law Quarterly

'Schabas has not attempted to be yet another voice in the choir of theorists, but has rather produced a navigating handbook that manages to ease the reader into this complex field.'

Source: International Peacekeeping