Some 25 nations have ratified; others are well on the way.
The court cannot begin trying cases until at least 60 nations have ratified.
It entered into force on 30 August 1975 when 15 nations ratified.
Only 39 nations have ratified the treaty, however, out of the 65 that are necessary to bring it into force.
The treaty could not go into effect until 60 nations ratified it.
These nations ratified the treaties of membership the following year.
The treaty will become effective 90 days after 20 nations have formally ratified it.
The issue concerns which nations must ratify the treaty before it takes legal effect.
Under its provisions, the agreement will not go into effect until at least 22 nations have ratified it.
As of November 2003, 104 nations had ratified the treaty.