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Public International Law: International Criminal Law

This guide covers researching public international law, which governs relationships between national governments and between national governments and intergovernmental organizations.

  Special Situation Courts

Special Situation Courts

“Since the creation of special courts to address the issues of war crimes after World War II there have been a series of other courts created to handle particular issues of international concern.  The following is a list of the most prominent of those courts.”

 

Nuremberg Trials: The Avalon Project at Yale Law School

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda: Official site

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia: Official site

 Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal: Official site

 

(Source: An Introduction to Public International Law Research By Vicenç Feliú (May/June 2008) NYU Globalex)

  International Criminal Court (ICC)

International Criminal Court (ICC)

“The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ICC is based on a treaty, joined by 110 countries.  The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute which created the ICC.  For further information see ASIL's U.S. Policy Toward the International Criminal Court:  Furthering Positive Engagement.

The ICC is a court of last resort. It will not act if a case is investigated or prosecuted by a national judicial system unless the national proceedings are not genuine, for example if formal proceedings were undertaken solely to shield a person from criminal responsibility. In addition, the ICC only tries those accused of the gravest crimes.

In all of its activities, the ICC observes the highest standards of fairness and due process. The jurisdiction and functioning of the ICC are governed by the Rome Statute.” (Source: ICC)

Official Journal of the International Criminal Court