Harmonizing Global Peace and Security: The Evolving Role of the ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC), established under the auspices of the Rome Statute, is critical in prosecuting crimes that threaten global peace and security. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties provides a crucial interpretative framework for understanding and applying international legal instruments. This article explores how interpretative principles from Articles 31 and 32 of the Vienna Convention influence the ICC's jurisdiction, admissibility standards, and discretion in prosecutorial practices. This paper evaluates the practical application of treaty interpretation in complex political contexts by using case studies such as the ICC's investigations in Ukraine (2022-2025 Russian invasion), Sudan (Darfur crisis), and Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank) environments (ICC, 2023). [1] Methodologically, this study utilizes doctrinal legal analysis, complemented by interpretive case study evaluation, to examine primary legal texts, ICC jurisprudence, and scholarly commentary. It argues that a coherent and principled approach to interpretation strengthens the legitimacy and legal consistency of the Court's decisions, enhancing its ability to function effectively within a fragmented and geopolitically charged international legal system order (Schabas, 2016). [2] Finally, it reflects on how the Vienna Convention can function as a legal tool and a shield against accusations of judicial overreach.