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Venezuela announced its 'firm and irrevocable decision' to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), informing the United Nations in July 2026.
Caracas accused the Court of geographical bias, saying it disproportionately targets African and Latin American countries.
The move comes amid an ICC investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela.
The ICC has stated that the withdrawal does not end existing cooperation obligations and its investigation will continue.
The ICC is a permanent international court, established by the Rome Statute (in force 2002) and seated at The Hague, that tries individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. It is a court of last resort, acting only when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute.
Simple Analogy: It is a global backstop court that steps in when a country's own courts will not or cannot try the gravest crimes.
GS Paper II > International Relations > International Institutions
General Awareness > International Organisations
The 1998 treaty (in force 2002) that established the International Criminal Court