Our History

A number of eminent figures attended the CICC Reception in July 2002, celebrating the ICC Statute�s entry into force. (l-r) William Pace, CICC Convenor; UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Chairperson of the ICC Preparatory Commission Amb. Philippe Kirsch; UN Legal Counsel Hans Correll; and former Nuremberg Prosecutor Ben Ferencz.

Below are selected highlights of the Coalition for the ICC's involvement in the establishment of the Court.

10 February 1995
A number of NGOs meet in New York and decide to form the NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court.

The CICC starts out with 25 member organizations

1995-1996
NGOs meet with the recently formed group of Like-Minded Governments (LMG) who support the creation of an ICC.

1997
The Coalition encourages governments to call for a diplomatic conference to negotiate the ICC treaty. In consultation with the LMG, the CICC develops the guiding principles for a permanent ICC.

Two years after its founding, the Coalition has now grown to 450 organizations.

14 June 1998
The CICC Steering Committee adopts its eleven principles for the Coalition�s work at the Rome Conference.

15 June - 17 July 1998
CICC members take part in the Rome Diplomatic Conference on the ICC and represent the largest delegation, with nearly 500 participants.

The Coalition now counts a total of 800 member organizations.

August 1998
After the conference, CICC members adopt a multi-year campaign to secure the 60 ratifications required for entry into force of the treaty.

1999
The CICC calls for July 17th to be designated World Day for International Justice. The CICC is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; three other nominations follow in subsequent years. The Coalition also launches a campaign from The Hague on 13 May 1999 calling for the worldwide ratification of the ICC Statute after Senegal became the first state to ratify the ICC treaty in February 1999.

2000
Despite expert predictions that it would take decades to realize 60 ratifications, the success of the Coalition�s global ratification campaign indicates that it could be achieved by 2002. The Coalition begins research on �lessons learned� from the ICTY and ICTR.

September 2000
During the Millennium Summit, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan calls on all UN member states to promptly ratify the Rome Statute.

More than 1,000 NGOs have joined the Coalition.

31 December 2000
NGO members in the United States conduct an extensive campaign for President Clinton�s signature of the ICC treaty. On its final day for signature, the United States � along with Iran and Israel � signs the Rome Statute, bringing the total number to 139 signatories (surpassing the CICC campaign goal of 120 signatures, to match the votes in favor of the Rome Statute).

2001
After Andorra's ratification of the ICC treaty marked the halfway point to the 60 ratifications needed for the Rome Statute's entry into force, the Coalition calls for the government of the Netherlands and the Preparatory Commission to dramatically step up efforts to prepare for the ICC, including the establishment of an Advance Team.

11 April 2002
CICC members attend a historic ceremony at the UN, in which ten countries simultaneously deposit their instruments of ratification, triggering the entry into force of the ICC Statute. The event is the result of close collaboration between the Coalition and the UN.

May 2002
The Coalition establishes a co-secretariat in The Hague to closely monitor the Court and facilitate NGO consultations with the ICC and the Assembly of States Parties.

June-July 2002
After the United States announces to the United Nations its intention not to ratify the Rome State, the Coalition organizes intense opposition to US efforts to obtain a Security Council resolution exempting US peacekeepers from ICC prosecution for a renewable one year period, which is ultimately adopted on July 12.

1 July 2002
The CICC hosts a reception to mark the entry into force of the Rome Statute, which is attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

September 2002
At the first meeting of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), held in New York, the Coalition succeeds in promoting democratic and progressive procedures and criteria with regard to the election of judges and the Prosecutor.

11 March 2003
After the election of the first 18 judges by the ASP in February 2003 in New York, the Coalition is honored to participate in the Inauguration of the ICC judges, and hosts a Special Convocation with the newly elected judges. The Convenor joins the ICC President and the President of the Assembly of States Parties in a press conference. The next month, the ASP elects Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo of Argentina as the first Chief Prosecutor of the ICC.

16 June 2003
Coalition members participate in the Swearing in of ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and make presentations at his first public hearing.

The CICC�s membership now exceeds 2,000 organizations.

September 2003
The Coalition�s budgetary and other working groups increase activities to monitor the ASP during the early stages of the ICC�s establishment. The ASP adopts a resolution recognizing the contributions of the CICC to the establishment of the Court.

2004
The Coalition becomes fully engaged with all aspects of the ICC and expands its networks in Africa and the Middle East.

January-June 2004
CICC members advocate actively against attempts to undermine the integrity of the Court and help prevent the renewal of Security Council Resolutions 1422/1487 that exempted UN peacekeepers from non-States Parties from ICC prosecution, which is ultimately withdrawn by the United States due to a lack of support.

April 2004
The Coalition embarks on its campaign to secure 100 ratifications.

September 2004
The Coalition facilitates NGO participation in the Third Session of the Assembly of States Parties, which is held in The Hague for the first time. The Assembly adopts the ICC�s budget for 2005 and elects the Deputy Prosecutor for Prosecutions, Ms. Fatou Bensouda of The Gambia.

2005
The CICC expands its team structure to better monitor and provide input on issues related to the ICC and the ASP. The Coalition also expands its New York and Hague Secretariats.

10 February 2005
The Coalition celebrates its 10th anniversary.

31 March 2005
The UN Security Council refers the situation in Darfur, Sudan to the International Criminal Court, an action advocated by many CICC members.

The CICC�s membership now has organizations from over 150 countries.

27 October 2005
Mexico becomes the 100th state to ratify the ICC treaty. The CICC attends a ceremony at the United Nations to commemorate the event.

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Who We Are & What We Do » Our History » CICC Tenth Anniversary CICC Convenor and Staff » Steering Committee Advisory Board » Regional and National Networks » Thematic Caucuses NGO Teams on Issues Global Partners » Annual Report Become an NGO Member Get Involved » Publications and Resources » Employment and Internships Contact Us Browse by Region		> Who We Are & What We Do > Our History CICC Tenth Anniversary Our History A number of eminent figures attended the CICC Reception in July 2002, celebrating the ICC Statute�s entry into force. (l-r) William Pace, CICC Convenor; UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Chairperson of the ICC Preparatory Commission Amb. Philippe Kirsch; UN Legal Counsel Hans Correll; and former Nuremberg Prosecutor Ben Ferencz. Below are selected highlights of the Coalition for the ICC's involvement in the establishment of the Court. 10 February 1995 A number of NGOs meet in New York and decide to form the NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court. The CICC starts out with 25 member organizations 1995-1996 NGOs meet with the recently formed group of Like-Minded Governments (LMG) who support the creation of an ICC. 1997 The Coalition encourages governments to call for a diplomatic conference to negotiate the ICC treaty. In consultation with the LMG, the CICC develops the guiding principles for a permanent ICC. Two years after its founding, the Coalition has now grown to 450 organizations. 14 June 1998 The CICC Steering Committee adopts its eleven principles for the Coalition�s work at the Rome Conference. 15 June - 17 July 1998 CICC members take part in the Rome Diplomatic Conference on the ICC and represent the largest delegation, with nearly 500 participants. *The Coalition now counts a total of 800 member organizations.* August 1998 After the conference, CICC members adopt a multi-year campaign to secure the 60 ratifications required for entry into force of the treaty. 1999 The CICC calls for July 17th to be designated World Day for International Justice. The CICC is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; three other nominations follow in subsequent years. The Coalition also launches a campaign from The Hague on 13 May 1999 calling for the worldwide ratification of the ICC Statute after Senegal became the first state to ratify the ICC treaty in February 1999. 2000 Despite expert predictions that it would take decades to realize 60 ratifications, the success of the Coalition�s global ratification campaign indicates that it could be achieved by 2002. The Coalition begins research on �lessons learned� from the ICTY and ICTR. September 2000 During the Millennium Summit, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan calls on all UN member states to promptly ratify the Rome Statute. *More than 1,000 NGOs have joined the Coalition.* 31 December 2000 NGO members in the United States conduct an extensive campaign for President Clinton�s signature of the ICC treaty. On its final day for signature, the United States � along with Iran and Israel � signs the Rome Statute, bringing the total number to 139 signatories (surpassing the CICC campaign goal of 120 signatures, to match the votes in favor of the Rome Statute). 2001 After Andorra's ratification of the ICC treaty marked the halfway point to the 60 ratifications needed for the Rome Statute's entry into force, the Coalition calls for the government of the Netherlands and the Preparatory Commission to dramatically step up efforts to prepare for the ICC, including the establishment of an Advance Team. 11 April 2002 CICC members attend a historic ceremony at the UN, in which ten countries simultaneously deposit their instruments of ratification, triggering the entry into force of the ICC Statute. The event is the result of close collaboration between the Coalition and the UN. May 2002 The Coalition establishes a co-secretariat in The Hague to closely monitor the Court and facilitate NGO consultations with the ICC and the Assembly of States Parties. June-July 2002 After the United States announces to the United Nations its intention not to ratify the Rome State, the Coalition organizes intense opposition to US efforts to obtain a Security Council resolution exempting US peacekeepers from ICC prosecution for a renewable one year period, which is ultimately adopted on July 12. 1 July 2002 The CICC hosts a reception to mark the entry into force of the Rome Statute, which is attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. September 2002 At the first meeting of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), held in New York, the Coalition succeeds in promoting democratic and progressive procedures and criteria with regard to the election of judges and the Prosecutor. 11 March 2003 After the election of the first 18 judges by the ASP in February 2003 in New York, the Coalition is honored to participate in the Inauguration of the ICC judges, and hosts a Special Convocation with the newly elected judges. The Convenor joins the ICC President and the President of the Assembly of States Parties in a press conference. The next month, the ASP elects Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo of Argentina as the first Chief Prosecutor of the ICC. 16 June 2003 Coalition members participate in the Swearing in of ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and make presentations at his first public hearing. *The CICC�s membership now exceeds 2,000 organizations.* September 2003 The Coalition�s budgetary and other working groups increase activities to monitor the ASP during the early stages of the ICC�s establishment. The ASP adopts a resolution recognizing the contributions of the CICC to the establishment of the Court. 2004 The Coalition becomes fully engaged with all aspects of the ICC and expands its networks in Africa and the Middle East. January-June 2004 CICC members advocate actively against attempts to undermine the integrity of the Court and help prevent the renewal of Security Council Resolutions 1422/1487 that exempted UN peacekeepers from non-States Parties from ICC prosecution, which is ultimately withdrawn by the United States due to a lack of support. April 2004 The Coalition embarks on its campaign to secure 100 ratifications. September 2004 The Coalition facilitates NGO participation in the Third Session of the Assembly of States Parties, which is held in The Hague for the first time. The Assembly adopts the ICC�s budget for 2005 and elects the Deputy Prosecutor for Prosecutions, Ms. Fatou Bensouda of The Gambia. 2005 The CICC expands its team structure to better monitor and provide input on issues related to the ICC and the ASP. The Coalition also expands its New York and Hague Secretariats. 10 February 2005 The Coalition celebrates its 10th anniversary. 31 March 2005 The UN Security Council refers the situation in Darfur, Sudan to the International Criminal Court, an action advocated by many CICC members. *The CICC�s membership now has organizations from over 150 countries.* 27 October 2005 Mexico becomes the 100th state to ratify the ICC treaty. The CICC attends a ceremony at the United Nations to commemorate the event.