Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
4.
The Court may, in accordance with article 12, 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 by lodging a declaration with the Registrar. The withdrawal of such a
declaration may be effected at any time and shall be considered by the State Party within three years.
5.
In respect of a State that is not a party to this Statute, the Court shall not exercise its jurisdiction over the
crime of aggression when committed by that State’s nationals or on its territory.
6.
Where the Prosecutor concludes that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation in
respect of a crime of aggression, he or she shall first ascertain whether the Security Council has made
a determination of an act of aggression committed by the State concerned. The Prosecutor shall notify
the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the situation before the Court, including any relevant
information and documents.
7.
Where the Security Council has made such a determination, the Prosecutor may proceed with the
investigation in respect of a crime of aggression.
8.
Where no such determination is made within six months after the date of notification, the Prosecutor may
proceed with the investigation in respect of a crime of aggression, provided that the Pre-Trial Division has
authorized the commencement of the investigation in respect of a crime of aggression in accordance with
the procedure contained in article 15, and the Security Council has not decided otherwise in accordance
with article16.
9.
A determination of an act of aggression by an organ outside the Court shall be without prejudice to the
Court’s own findings under this Statute.
10.
This article is without prejudice to the provisions relating to the exercise of jurisdiction with respect to other
crimes referred to in article 5.
Article 15 ter6
Exercise of jurisdiction over the crime of aggression (Security Council referral)
1.
The Court may exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in accordance with article 13, paragraph
(b), subject to the provisions of this article.
2.
The Court may exercise jurisdiction only with respect to crimes of aggression committed one year after the
ratification or acceptance of the amendments by thirty States Parties.
3.
The Court shall exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in accordance with this article, subject
to a decision to be taken after 1 January 2017 by the same majority of States Parties as is required for the
adoption of an amendment to the Statute.
4.
A determination of an act of aggression by an organ outside the Court shall be without prejudice to the
Court’s own findings under this Statute.
5.
This article is without prejudice to the provisions relating to the exercise of jurisdiction with respect to other
crimes referred to in article 5.
Article 16
Deferral of investigation or prosecution
No investigation or prosecution may be commenced or proceeded with under this Statute for a period of 12
months after the Security Council, in a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
has requested the Court to that effect; that request may be renewed by the Council under the same conditions.
Article 17
Issues of admissibility
1.
Having regard to paragraph 10 of the Preamble and article 1, the Court shall determine that a case is
inadmissible where:
(a)
6
10
The case is being investigated or prosecuted by a State which has jurisdiction over it, unless the State
is unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution;
Inserted by resolution RC/Res.6 of 11 June 2010.