Political Challenges and Legal Complexities in Evidence Collection at the International Criminal Court

ABSTRACT: Nowadays, due to the ongoing armed conflicts in the world, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is at the epicenter of attention and is facing significant political challenges. The court is subject to political pressure from the dominant states. Moreover, there are legal difficulties, such as the issue of cooperation from countries that are not members of the Rome Statute and delay in exercising the court’s jurisdiction in their territories, which make gathering evidence difficult. All of the above-mentioned hinders the effectiveness and legitimacy of this universal system. The topic addresses pressing issues such as the complex political landscape in which the court is run, issues of political bias, the willingness of powerful states not to comply with the ICC, challenges of ensuring cooperation among member states, the principle of complementarity, etc. The goal of the research is to clearly highlight the challenges faced by the ICC and to provide appropriate recommendations regarding necessary measures. KEYWORDS: International Criminal Court, political challenges, legal complexities, evidence collection, cooperation of non-member states