Of those committing crimes against humanity, U. N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that a new "age of accountability" is replacing the "old era of impunity."

The United Nations News Center reported on Monday that meeting in Kampala, Uganda, at the first-ever review of the International Criminal Court established 12 years ago in Rome, Ban noted the ICC's "collective determination that crimes of humanity cannot go unpunished."

He said, "In this new age of accountability, those who commit the worst of human crimes," be they rank-and-file foot soldiers or top political leaders, "will be held responsible."

The United Nations said that although 111 countries have joined the ICC, 37 signed the Rome Statute without ratifying it, the world's most powerful nations, including the United States, Russia and China, have not joined.

It was further reported that Ban pointed out the ICC exercises jurisdiction only where national courts cannot or do not take action themselves. (With Inputs from Agencies)