Basic guarantees for the follow-up of chiefsbefore the International Criminal Court

Abstract

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court entered into force on July 1, 2002, and with it criminal justice entered a new era based on the consecration of the principle of international criminal responsibility of the individual, by limiting the policy of impunity for individuals, in general and for leaders and chiefs involved in the commission of international crimes in the first place.

However, criminal justice is a two-way street, as it is said. As much as it is keen to punish criminals for the crimes they have committed, it seeks at the same time to provide the accused with a fair trial, which has the minimum objective and procedural guarantees to protect his basic rights and freedoms as a human being.

The goal that the International Criminal Court seeks to reach is that none of the leaders and presidents who are proven to be involved in the commission of international crimes, especially those stipulated in Article 05 of the International Criminal Court system, should escape punishment.

This paper examines the basic guarantees recognized by the Statute of the International Criminal Court, which must be enjoyed by the accused before the Court, regardless of the nature of the criminal acts pursued.