How Do You Cite the Rome Statute?

By Michael Ferguson

The Rome Statute is an international treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). If you are referencing or using information from the Rome Statute in your research or academic work, it is important to cite it properly. Citing the Rome Statute follows a specific format to ensure accuracy and credibility.

How to Cite the Rome Statute

When citing the Rome Statute, you should include certain key elements:

  • Title: The official title of the document is “Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”
  • Date: The date of adoption of the Rome Statute is July 17, 1998.
  • Publisher: The publisher is the United Nations.

To cite the Rome Statute in your reference list, follow this format:

In-Text Citation

When referring to a specific article within the Rome Statute in your text, use a standard citation style such as APA or MLA. For example, if you are discussing Article 7 of the Rome Statute which deals with crimes against humanity, you can write:

In APA style:

(Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998)

In MLA style:

(Rome Statute)

Reference List Entry

In your reference list at the end of your document or research paper, provide a complete citation for the Rome Statute. Here’s an example in APA style:

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. (1998). Retrieved from United Nations website: [URL]

Replace [URL] with the direct URL where the Rome Statute can be accessed, such as the official United Nations website or an official legal database.

Why Cite the Rome Statute?

Citing the Rome Statute is crucial for several reasons:

  • Credibility: By citing the source, you provide credibility to your research and show that you are relying on authoritative and internationally recognized legal documents.
  • Transparency: Citing the Rome Statute allows readers to easily locate and verify the information you have used in your work.
  • Avoiding Plagiarism: Properly citing the Rome Statute helps you avoid plagiarism by giving credit to the original source of information.

In Conclusion

Citing the Rome Statute is essential when using it as a reference in your research or academic work. By following the proper citation format, you ensure accuracy, credibility, and transparency in your writing.

Remember to use in-text citations when referring to specific articles within the Rome Statute and include a complete reference list entry at the end of your document. This way, your readers can easily access and verify the information you have used.