UnderArticle8oftheRomeStatute,theCourtshallhavejurisdictioninrespectofwarcrimes,inparticularwhencommittedaspartofaplanorpolicyoraspartofalarge-scalecommissionofsuchcrimes.ForthepurposeofthisStatute,"warcrimes"meansgravebreachesoftheGenevaConventionsof12August1949,aswellasotherseriousviolationsofthelawsandcustomsapplicableininternationalarmedconflictandinarmedconflictnotofaninternationalcharacter.TheCourtshallexercisejurisdictionoverwarcrimescommittedintheterritoryofaStatePartyorbyanationalofaStateParty,regardlessofwherethecrimewascommitted.TheProsecutormayinitiateinvestigationspropriomotuonthebasisofinformationoncrimeswithinthejurisdictionoftheCourt.ThePre-TrialChambershallauthorizethecommencementoftheinvestigationunlessitdeterminesthatthereisnoreasonablebasistoproceedunderthisStatute.Inmakingthisdetermination,theChambershallconsiderwhethertheallegedcrimesfallwithinthejurisdictionoftheCourtandwhethertherearesubstantialgroundstobelievethataninvestigationwouldnotservetheinterestsofjustice.
