The ICC: Court of Democracies

The ICC embodies the values and laws of democracy: human rights, due process, judicial transparency, accountability, and the protection of victims. As a result, ICC member states are overwhelmingly democracies and allies of the U.S.

95% of ICC Member Countries Are Free or Partly Free
The non-profit organization Freedom House annually assesses every country in the world as "Free," "Partly Free," or "Not Free," based on their level of political rights and civil liberties. According to their 2008 report, 65% of ICC members are "Free" and another 30% are ranked as "Partly Free," with some form of democracy and respect for human rights. In fact, of the 108 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, only six are "Not Free." For these six countries, ICC membership is a step toward democracy and the rule of law.

+Download PDF of 2008 Freedom House Rankings

More than 70% of All Free Countries Are Already ICC Members
Currently, 89 countries are “Free” according to Freedom House’s 2005 rankings. 64 of them (72%) are already full members of the ICC. The percentage is higher if you include democracies that have said they will become ICC members.

Democratic Countries Control the ICC’s Administration
Each ICC member gets one vote in the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), a democratic forum that makes all important decisions about the Court, including the election and removal of judges and prosecutors, approval of the budget, and any amendments to the ICC treaty. Because of this democratic and transparent process, no country or group of countries can take advantage of the Court for political purposes.

U.S. Democratic Allies Strongly Support the ICC
Key U.S. allies are members and strong supporters of the Court, including all the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Italy, South Korea, Argentina, Jordan, and South Africa. Japan, Russia, and Mexico, while not yet full members of the ICC, are also vocal supporters of the Court and its work.
+ STATEMENTS OF ALLIES

Emerging Democracies Have Joined the ICC to Secure the Rule of Law
New democracies in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa are among the ICC’s strongest supporters. For these countries, joining the ICC helps build the rule of law and respect for human rights within their own borders, protecting against a return to tyranny and strengthening their democratic traditions.

Last updated March 24, 2009