Which of the following best describes the enforcement of the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

The enforcement mechanism of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is fundamentally reliant on the cooperation of states. When the ICC issues binding judgments, such as convictions or sentences against individuals for crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, it does not have its own law enforcement body to ensure compliance with these judgments. Instead, the ICC must depend on international cooperation from states to arrest and surrender individuals who are subject to these judgments.

This dependence on state cooperation is particularly crucial because it determines the effectiveness of the Court's rulings. States are expected to uphold their obligations to comply with the ICC’s requests for assistance in investigations and enforcement, based on the treaties and agreements that they ratify. While the ICC can issue warrants and judgments, the actual execution of those decisions often relies on the willingness and capacity of the state parties to take the necessary actions. This dynamic highlights the limitations inherent in international law enforcement, where sovereignty and political considerations can impede the ICC’s actions.

The other options fail to capture this critical relationship between the ICC and state cooperation regarding the enforcement of its rulings.