What Are the Major Obstacles in the International Criminal Court’s Pre-trial and Trial Stages?
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What Are the Major Obstacles in the International Criminal Court’s Pre-trial and Trial Stages?

Di Xiao 1*
1 Southwest University of Political Science and Law
*Corresponding author: sydxjhlbdsnmdbyzz@icloud.com
Published on 11 July 2025
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LNEP Vol.108
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-277-5
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-278-2
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Abstract

The International Criminal Court (“ICC”) is an important international institution for dealing with international crimes. The ICC has always been at the front line for pursuing international criminal justice and has accomplished several influential cases. However, problems emerged within the ICC’s legal process and need to be solved. This paper focuses on the obstacles encountered during the Pre-Trial and Trial stages of the ICC, which are two critical parts in the whole legal process. The research question is: "What are the major obstacles in the ICC's Pre-Trial and Trial stages?" This research question is fundamental as it could enhance the efficiency of the ICC's legal process and reduce extensive time commitments. This paper uses the case study methodology, analyzing cases from the ICC and ad hoc tribunals. The analysis concludes that limited state cooperation and the strict standards for proving Genocide are the primary challenges in these stages. Addressing these issues can enhance the ICC's ability to prosecute international crimes effectively.

Keywords:

International Criminal Court, legal process, state cooperation, Genocide

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Xiao,D. (2025). What Are the Major Obstacles in the International Criminal Court’s Pre-trial and Trial Stages?. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,108,7-14.

References

[1]. Mutyaba, Rita. 2012. "An Analysis of the Cooperation Regime of the International Criminal Court and its Effectiveness in the Court’s Objective in Securing Suspects in its Ongoing Investigations and Prosecutions. " International Criminal Law Review 12 (5): 937-962. https://doi. org/10. 1163/15718123-01205006b.

[2]. Song, Sang-Hyun. 2016. "International Criminal Court-Centred Justice and Its Challenges. " Melb. J. Int'l L. 17: 1. http://www5. austlii. edu. au/au/journals/MelbJIL/2016/1. html.

[3]. Jeremy Sarkin. 2020. "Reforming the International Criminal Court (ICC) to Achieve Increased State Cooperation in Investigations and Prosecutions of International Crimes, " International Human Rights Law Review 9 (1:) 27-61. https://doi. org/10. 1163/22131035-00901001.

[4]. Muhammad, Samaria, Barbora Holá, and Anja Dirkzwager. 2021. "Reimagining the ICC: Exploring practitioners' perspectives on the effectiveness of the International Criminal Court. " International Criminal Law Review 21 (1): 126-153. https://doi. org/10. 1163/15718123-bja10039.

[5]. Micha, Eleni. 2022. "Evaluating the Evidence by the UN International Investigative Mechanisms: a New Challenge for the International Criminal Court?. " International Criminal Law Review 23 (2): 352-378. https://doi. org/10. 1163/15718123-bja10140.

[6]. Yang, Suhong, and Yudan Tan. 2023. "The Joint Investigation Team in Ukraine: challenges and Opportunities for the International Criminal Court. " European papers: a journal on law and integration 8 (3): 1121-1124. https://doi. org/10. 15166/2499-8249/705.

[7]. Brady Flanery. 2020. "The Last ICTY Trial: An Analysis of the Ratko Mladic Trial and the Struggle to Reach a Guilty Verdict for Perpetrators of Genocide, " Indonesian Journal of International & Comparative Law 7 (1): 75-96. https://heinonline. org/HOL/Page?handle=hein. journals/indjicl7&div=9&g_sent=1&casa_token=&collection=journals.

[8]. Owens, Nicholas. 2024. "An Issue of Intent: The Struggles of Proving Genocide. " https://scholarship. shu. edu/cgi/viewcontent. cgi?article=2428&context=student_scholarship.

[9]. Arcos Tejerizo, María de. 2023. “Digital Evidence and Fair Trial Rights at the International Criminal Court. ” Leiden Journal of International Law 36 (3): 749–69. https://doi. org/10. 1017/S0922156523000031.

[10]. Quilling, Chelsea. 2022. "The Future of Digital Evidence Authentication at the International Criminal Court. " Journal of Public & International Affairs. https://jpia. princeton. edu/news/future-digital-evidence-authentication-international-criminal-court.

[11]. International Criminal Court. Independent Expert Review of the International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute System Final Report. 2020.

[12]. Office of the Prosecutor. Strategic Plan 2023-2025. 2023.

[13]. The Prosecutor v. Ratko Mladić, IT-09-92-T, 22 November 2017. https://ucr. irmct. org/LegalRef/CMSDocStore/Public/English/Judgement/NotIndexable/IT-09-92/JUD275R0000516226. pdf.

[14]. The Prosecutor v. Radislav Kristić, IT-98-33-A, 19 April 2004. https://www. icty. org/x/cases/krstic/acjug/en/.

[15]. Wallenfeldt, J. . "Ratko Mladić. " Encyclopedia Britannica, August 23, 2024. https://www. britannica. com/biography/Ratko-Mladic.

[16]. The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, ICC-01/04-01/06-2842, 14 March 2012. https://www. icc-cpi. int/court-record/icc-01/04-01/06-2842.

[17]. DE VOS, CHRISTIAN M. 2013. “Investigating from Afar: The ICC’s Evidence Problem. ” Leiden Journal of International Law 26 (4): 1009–24. https://doi. org/10. 1017/s0922156513000526.

[18]. The Prosecutor v. Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, ICC-02/05-01/09-73, 3 February 2010. https://www. icc-cpi. int/court-record/icc-02/05-01/09-73.

[19]. Boehme, Franziska. "Enabling Justice: State Cooperation with the International Criminal Court. " PhD diss. , Syracuse University, 2017. https://surface. syr. edu/etd/687.

References

[1]. Mutyaba, Rita. 2012. "An Analysis of the Cooperation Regime of the International Criminal Court and its Effectiveness in the Court’s Objective in Securing Suspects in its Ongoing Investigations and Prosecutions. " International Criminal Law Review 12 (5): 937-962. https://doi. org/10. 1163/15718123-01205006b.

[2]. Song, Sang-Hyun. 2016. "International Criminal Court-Centred Justice and Its Challenges. " Melb. J. Int'l L. 17: 1. http://www5. austlii. edu. au/au/journals/MelbJIL/2016/1. html.

[3]. Jeremy Sarkin. 2020. "Reforming the International Criminal Court (ICC) to Achieve Increased State Cooperation in Investigations and Prosecutions of International Crimes, " International Human Rights Law Review 9 (1:) 27-61. https://doi. org/10. 1163/22131035-00901001.

[4]. Muhammad, Samaria, Barbora Holá, and Anja Dirkzwager. 2021. "Reimagining the ICC: Exploring practitioners' perspectives on the effectiveness of the International Criminal Court. " International Criminal Law Review 21 (1): 126-153. https://doi. org/10. 1163/15718123-bja10039.

[5]. Micha, Eleni. 2022. "Evaluating the Evidence by the UN International Investigative Mechanisms: a New Challenge for the International Criminal Court?. " International Criminal Law Review 23 (2): 352-378. https://doi. org/10. 1163/15718123-bja10140.

[6]. Yang, Suhong, and Yudan Tan. 2023. "The Joint Investigation Team in Ukraine: challenges and Opportunities for the International Criminal Court. " European papers: a journal on law and integration 8 (3): 1121-1124. https://doi. org/10. 15166/2499-8249/705.

[7]. Brady Flanery. 2020. "The Last ICTY Trial: An Analysis of the Ratko Mladic Trial and the Struggle to Reach a Guilty Verdict for Perpetrators of Genocide, " Indonesian Journal of International & Comparative Law 7 (1): 75-96. https://heinonline. org/HOL/Page?handle=hein. journals/indjicl7&div=9&g_sent=1&casa_token=&collection=journals.

[8]. Owens, Nicholas. 2024. "An Issue of Intent: The Struggles of Proving Genocide. " https://scholarship. shu. edu/cgi/viewcontent. cgi?article=2428&context=student_scholarship.

[9]. Arcos Tejerizo, María de. 2023. “Digital Evidence and Fair Trial Rights at the International Criminal Court. ” Leiden Journal of International Law 36 (3): 749–69. https://doi. org/10. 1017/S0922156523000031.

[10]. Quilling, Chelsea. 2022. "The Future of Digital Evidence Authentication at the International Criminal Court. " Journal of Public & International Affairs. https://jpia. princeton. edu/news/future-digital-evidence-authentication-international-criminal-court.

[11]. International Criminal Court. Independent Expert Review of the International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute System Final Report. 2020.

[12]. Office of the Prosecutor. Strategic Plan 2023-2025. 2023.

[13]. The Prosecutor v. Ratko Mladić, IT-09-92-T, 22 November 2017. https://ucr. irmct. org/LegalRef/CMSDocStore/Public/English/Judgement/NotIndexable/IT-09-92/JUD275R0000516226. pdf.

[14]. The Prosecutor v. Radislav Kristić, IT-98-33-A, 19 April 2004. https://www. icty. org/x/cases/krstic/acjug/en/.

[15]. Wallenfeldt, J. . "Ratko Mladić. " Encyclopedia Britannica, August 23, 2024. https://www. britannica. com/biography/Ratko-Mladic.

[16]. The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, ICC-01/04-01/06-2842, 14 March 2012. https://www. icc-cpi. int/court-record/icc-01/04-01/06-2842.

[17]. DE VOS, CHRISTIAN M. 2013. “Investigating from Afar: The ICC’s Evidence Problem. ” Leiden Journal of International Law 26 (4): 1009–24. https://doi. org/10. 1017/s0922156513000526.

[18]. The Prosecutor v. Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, ICC-02/05-01/09-73, 3 February 2010. https://www. icc-cpi. int/court-record/icc-02/05-01/09-73.

[19]. Boehme, Franziska. "Enabling Justice: State Cooperation with the International Criminal Court. " PhD diss. , Syracuse University, 2017. https://surface. syr. edu/etd/687.

Cite this article

Xiao,D. (2025). What Are the Major Obstacles in the International Criminal Court’s Pre-trial and Trial Stages?. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,108,7-14.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Global Politics and Socio-Humanities

ISBN: 978-1-80590-277-5(Print) / 978-1-80590-278-2(Online)
Editor: Enrique Mallen
Conference website: https://2024.icgpsh.org/
Conference date: 20 December 2024
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.108
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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