UN efforts to develop a body of international criminal law on a treaty basis date back to the end of World War II. In contrast to the international tribunals which were created on an  ad hoc  basis by virtue of a Security Council decision, the International Criminal Court is established on the basis of a special contractual agreement. The establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague is a turning point in the history of lawmaking which is marked by centuries of combating impunity and lawlessness. In contrast to the Statute of the International Military Tribunal of Nuremberg, which permitted proceedings to be conducted in the absence of the accused, the accused must be present during a trial before the International Criminal Court. Other important provisions concern the protection of victims and witnesses.  Keywords: International Criminal Court, Nuremberg, protection of victims, The Hague, United States of America, World War II