In the XXI century, issues such as peace and war, conflict and co-operation, sovereignty and intervention or the responsibility to protect, remain as significant as ever. From Thucydides to Hobbes or Rousseau philosophers have analysed these critical issues and had similar dilemmas to nowadays. Over thirty-five different conflicts are going on at present. Armies or rebel groups attack civilians and commit heinous crimes. All too often, the alleged perpetrators of those crimes are not punished by national courts. The international perception is that such crimes constitute a threat to international peace and security. “Determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of those crimes and thus to contribute to the prevention of such crimes”,^II the international community established the International Criminal Court (hereinafter “ICC”) with jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 1 July 2002. The International Criminal Court is a reality today thanks to the impressive synergy that was created before, during and after the Rome Conference by different actors: the states, the United Nations Secretariat, regional organisations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and international civil society. Through our joint efforts the rule of law prevailed over force. Yet, it is important to understand that the ICC is only one, albeit important, cog in the wheel of international justice and that every state still has the duty to investigate and try those crimes. It is critically important to understand that the ICC is only a last resort so that expectations remain realistic and responsibilities are shared. Very significantly, the rights of the victims before an international tribunal were recognised for the first time in the Rome Statute.