The chosen topic of this thesis is the establishment and jurisdiction of the permanent International Criminal Court in Den Haague, Netherlands. Over many years, there has been a drive for societal change and the limitation of state sovereignty to strengthen international peace and security. The adoption of the Rome Statute and the establishment of the first permanent international criminal court represent a significant step forward in the modern history of international criminal law, demonstrating unity and a desire for peace among many nations. This paper outlines the historical development of efforts to establish an institution similar to the current Court, beginning in the 17th century, through the Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals, the ad hoc Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, to the diplomatic conference that marked the end of a long historical era. In addition to the establishment of the International Criminal Court, the paper briefly describes its structure and functioning. Special attention is given to the Court's jurisdiction – temporal, subject-matter, territorial, and personal. Each of the most serious forms of international crimes is thoroughly described and illustrated with examples of cases brought before the ICC, with particular attention to the current situation in Ukraine.