Chapter 1: Introduction and Background of the International Criminal Court

“We need to promote greater tolerance and understanding among the peoples of the world. Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity."… Kofi Annan


1.1 Introduction and Background
In 1948, the United Nations adopted resolution 260, which involved the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.4 The act of genocide has revealed to many countries that global cooperation in this regard is required, as they witnessed what had happened in Germany under the Nazi regime. Therefore, according to Article 1 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, it states that “The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish".5