A Critical Analysis of Customs and General Principles in The Development of International Criminal Law,

ABSTRACT

International criminal law is one of the very broad aspects of intemationallaw generally, dealing with the investigation and possible prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of international crimes. In the prosecution of intemational crimes, intemational criminal law does contain various principles, norms and customs that have in fact contt~buted to its development. It is w1derstood that whilst international criminal law is different from intemational humanitarian law, there is a lot ofsignifance. Over the years, there has been steady development ofintemational criminal law. This study explains and analyzes comprehensively, the various principles and customs that have contributed to the development of intemational ct~minallaw, through, basically, the application of intemational humanitarian law and a little procedural and substantive human rights law applicable in anned cont1ict situations. The study identifies, however, that there are challenges which tend to hinder the continous development of international criminal law, and through the conduct of the study, to the end, discusses what the challenges entail and how they can be resolved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................. iii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................................. v

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... v

CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. !

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... !

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................ 2

RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................. 3

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ............................................................................................... 3

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................... 4

SCOPE OF THE STUDY. .............................................................................................................. .4

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 5

LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................................. 5

Statute of the Intemational Criminal Court ..................................................................................... 5

Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols ...................................................................... 6

ICRC Customary Intemational Humanitarian Law Study .............................................................. 7

CHAPTERJZATION OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................... 1 0

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... I 0

Between International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law ........................ !!

Intemational Humanitmian Law .................................................................................................... 13

The Hague Conventions a11d Geneva Conv~ntions ....................................................................... 15

Additional Protocols ...................................................................................................................... 15

Prosecution of Crimes under the Rome Statute .......................................................................... ' ... l8

International Humm1 Rights Law .................................................................................................. 20

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Intemational Covenm1t on Civil and Political

Rights and Intemational Covenm1t on Economic Social and Cultural Rights ............................... 21

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 21

vi

CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................................... 23

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 23

The Principle of Legality in International Criminal Law .............................................................. 24

Principle of Individual Criminal Responsibility ............................................................................ 26

The Principle of Command and Snperior Responsibility .............................................................. 28

Principle of Complementarity ....................................................................................................... 30

Principle of Equality and Non-discrimination; Impartiality and Independence ............................ 33

Principle of Sufficiency of Evidence ............................................................................................. 33

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 34

CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 36

II1troduction ................................................................................................................................... 36

Distinction in Aimed Conflicts ...................................................................................................... 37

Specifically Protected Persons and Objects in AI1ned Conflicts .................................................. .40

Treatment of Civilians and Persons lzors de combat in Armed Conflict Situations ..................... .42

Prosecution of War Crimes including Universal Jurisdiction, Obligation to Prosecute and

International Cooperation in Criminal Proceedings ..................................................................... .44

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 46

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................... 47

Summary of the Study .................................................................................................................. .4 7

Findings of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 48

General Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 49

Specific Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 50

Bibliography ................................................................................................. .

.......... 59

List of Conventions, Treaties, Statutes, General Comments, etc .................................................. 51

List of Cases ........... , ...................................................................................................................... 52

List of Text-Books, A1iicles, Reports, Journals ............................................................................ 53

Websites ......................................................................................................................................... 55