A permanent headquarters for the International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to open later this year in The Hague. The city, known for its institutions devoted to peace and justice, is in some respects a fitting home for the court.
But The Hague is not where the ICC matters most.
Where the ICC truly needs to matter is in the countries—and indeed in the communities— affected by the crimes the court will try. These are the places where victims and their families struggle to cope with the aftermath of mass atrocity. And these victims and communities—whether in Bangui, Benghazi, or Bunia—are the court’s chief stakeholders and should be at the heart of the ICC’s work.
