International Criminal Court opens its ‘peace palace’

With permanent home finally open, the ICC must live up to its aspirations

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon during the opening of the International Criminal Court complex in the Hague, The Netherlands. Photograph: EPA/Koen van Weel

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon during the opening of the International Criminal Court complex in the Hague, The Netherlands. Photograph: EPA/Koen van Weel

When King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially opened the first permanent home of the International Criminal Court yesterday, there was no doubt that many among the 350 watching lawyers, politicians and diplomats were fervently hoping the court’s worst days were already behind it.

Because while there’s no doubt that the ICC’s founding aims – to end impunity for those guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide – remain wholly laudable, there’s equally little doubt that the past few years have seen the court repeatedly unable to live up to those aspirations.

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