WAR CRIMES AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT: LEGAL MECHANISMS GLOBAL CHALLENGES AND EMERGING TRENDS

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) function ofprosecuting war crimes in the Rome Statute is subject to
critical analysis in this paper, locating its activities within the contemporary world ofamed conflict. The legal
definition and characterization of war crimes in international humanitarian law (IHL) are investigated,
jurisdictional boundaries are evaluated, and the Court's application of the complementarity principle is
examined. From comparative case studies in Uganda, Sudan, and Ukraine, the study identifies both successes
and systemic weaknesses in enforcement. Particular focus is placed on political opposition, selectivity
perceptions, and hurdles provided by new areas like cyber warfare and environmental crimes. The paper
concludes with proposals for increasing the ICC's legitimacy, operational capability, and responsiveness to new
threats.