The Rome Statute affirms that even the most powerful individuals can be held to account when national systems fail. For millions denied justice at home, the International Criminal Court offers a vital source of hope. That hope diminishes each time a State Party declines to arrest a sitting head of state wanted by the Court on grounds of personal immunity. Such failures erode the collective commitment underpinning the Rome Statute and risk turning a clear legal framework into a political choice. This paper explains why personal immunities cannot bar cooperation with the International Criminal Court and why reaffirming this principle is essential to preserving equality before the law and ensuring the Court remains a credible avenue for accountability.
