Complementarity

The Complementarity facilitation supports discussions on strengthening national capacity to investigate and prosecute crimes under the Rome Statute, in line with the principle that national jurisdictions bear the primary responsibility for addressing such crimes and the ICC intervenes only when those jurisdictions are unwilling or unable to act. It provides a forum for dialogue between States Parties, the Court and other stakeholders on complementarity-related capacity-building, cooperation and the relationship between national jurisdictions and the Court.

The facilitation also considers issues relating to situation-specific strategies, implementation of the Office of the Prosecutor's Policy on Complementarity and Cooperation, and efforts to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of gender-based crimes. In addition, it promotes the exchange of information and technical assistance through the Complementarity Platform.