This paper investigates and evaluates the roles of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as instruments in the fight against crime. The ICC, founded in 1998, deals with individuals who commit serious international crimes for which they should be held accountable. It is known for upholding the principle of personal accountability and justice for affected parties but suffers from limitations, due in part to political pressures. The International Court of Justice, known as the ICJ, was founded in 1945 to settle disputes involving the Westphalian concept of state sovereignty or other jurisdictional matters. It cannot try or convict an individual criminal but can greatly help in crystallising legal principles. Though each institution has its own way of doing things, both are tasked to serve justice based on full observance of laws by all parties. International accountability mechanisms may be improved by admitting that these two entities complement each other and by confronting their predicaments.
