Article 17 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court outlines the criteria and procedures for determining the admissibility of a case before the Court. It emphasizes the importance of complementarity, meaning that the Court will only intervene when a state is unwilling or unable to genuinely investigate and prosecute the crimes within its jurisdiction. The article also sets out the factors that the Court must consider when determining admissibility, such as the gravity of the crime, the interests of justice, and the availability of national proceedings. Overall, Article 17 serves to ensure that the International Criminal Court operates effectively and fairly in its pursuit of justice for the most serious crimes.
