International Criminal Court Handbook

Author: Compiled by the Research Center for Criminal Law Science, Renmin University of China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The "Library of the Research Center for International Criminal Law, Renmin University of China" is an academic medium dedicated to promoting and advancing the study of outward-oriented criminal law. It publishes research outcomes by full-time and adjunct researchers of the Research Center for International Criminal Law, Renmin University of China, in the fields of international criminal law, comparative criminal law, foreign criminal law, and the criminal laws of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. The publications include specialized studies, comprehensive research, translations or introductions of foreign legal codes and works, as well as collaborative research projects between domestic and international scholars. The publisher has already released books such as Explorations in International Criminal Law and International Crimes, Studies on the European Union Criminal Justice Association and Related Documents (Chinese-English Edition), and A Collection of Rules for International Criminal Trials.
In July 1998, the United Nations Diplomatic Conference on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court was held in Rome, Italy. The conference adopted the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (hereinafter referred to as the Rome Statute) with 120 votes in favor, 7 against, and 21 abstentions. On July 1, 2002, the Rome Statute entered into force, marking the official establishment of the world's first permanent international criminal court, which became a significant milestone in the development of international criminal law. As Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated, the establishment of the International Criminal Court was "a gift to future generations and a major step toward universal human rights and the rule of law." As of May 2005, 139 countries had signed and 99 had ratified the Rome Statute, and the international criminal justice standards established by the International Criminal Court had been widely accepted.
China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the world's largest developing country, actively participated in all stages of the negotiation process of the Rome Statute and the preparatory meetings for the establishment of the International Criminal Court before 1998, making outstanding contributions to the drafting of the Rome Statute and the establishment of the court. However, due to the International Criminal Court's failure to address certain concerns of the Chinese government, such as the power of the prosecutor, China has yet to ratify the Rome Statute to this day. Despite this, Chinese legal scholars have shown increasing enthusiasm for researching the Rome Statute and the practical operations of the International Criminal Court. In particular, experts and scholars at the National Key Research Base, the Research Center for Criminal Law Science, Renmin University of China, have not only published numerous academic papers and specialized works on this topic but have also pioneered the organization of the "International Criminal Court Symposium" (February 2003, Haikou, Hainan Province, China) and a series of lectures and presentations on international criminal court research.
To further expand research on the International Criminal Court, after a period of effort, in June 2005, Professor Gao Mingxuan, Professor Zhao Bingzhi, and Associate Professor Wang Xiumei jointly established the "Project Office for Promoting the Development of the International Criminal Court." The Project Office (hereinafter referred to as the "Office") is an academic research institution attached to the Research Center for Criminal Law Science, Renmin University of China, and is one of its key components. The Office is advised by Professor Gao Mingxuan, a renowned Chinese criminal law scholar, vice president of the International Society of Criminal Law, vice chair of the Scientific Committee of the International Society of Criminal Law, and chair of the Chinese Branch. Professor Zhao Bingzhi, another distinguished Chinese criminal law scholar, vice chair of the Chinese Branch of the International Society of Criminal Law, and president of the Criminal Law Research Society of the Chinese Law Society, serves as the director of the Office. Associate Professor Wang Xiumei, the first Chinese doctoral graduate in international criminal law, researcher at the Research Center for Criminal Law Science, Renmin University of China, and deputy secretary-general of the Criminal Law Research Society of the Chinese Law Society, serves as the executive director.
The mission of the Office is to promote and disseminate knowledge about the International Criminal Court, closely monitor and share the latest information and developments related to the court, foster in-depth discussion and research on theoretical issues of the International Criminal Court within the domestic academic community, strengthen academic exchanges and cooperation with international scholars, enhance the international community's understanding and recognition of China's research activities and achievements on the International Criminal Court, and provide references and recommendations for China's eventual ratification of the Rome Statute.
To accelerate the dissemination of knowledge and information about the International Criminal Court, on one hand, the Office has actively initiated the establishment of the first Chinese-English website on the International Criminal Court (www.iccchina.org), which has taken shape but is still under construction and refinement. On the other hand, the Office has modeled itself on the successful experiences and models of international peers in this field and aims to widely promote and disseminate knowledge through the publication of the Handbook on the International Criminal Court (hereinafter referred to as the Handbook), complemented by relevant academic symposium activities. The Handbook is a comprehensive and systematic introductory guide to the International Criminal Court, including a brief overview of the court, answers to frequently asked questions about certain aspects of the court, and a list of countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. It also includes selected foundational legal documents related to the International Criminal Court, such as the Rome Statute, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and the Elements of Crimes. Additionally, to facilitate research, the Handbook lists the main research achievements of domestic scholars in the field of the International Criminal Court at the end for reference.
Finally, we sincerely thank the China University of Political Science and Law Press for their strong support in the smooth publication of the Handbook. We extend our gratitude to the colleagues of the Office who contributed to the editing of the Handbook and the translation of some materials. At the same time, we welcome organizations and individuals who are committed to world peace and justice to continue providing resources and support to the Office and the International Criminal Court research website (contact: iccchina2005@126.com)!
Research Center for Criminal Law Science, Renmin University of China
Project Office for Promoting the Development of the International Criminal Court
Asian Legal Resources Center
June 2005