Law: Transnational Criminal Justice

International Criminal Law (ICL) is a specialised area of law that deals with the prosecution and punishment of individuals for serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity. It encompasses legal principles, rules, and institutions established to hold individuals accountable for committing murders that threaten global peace, security, and stability. International Criminal Law focuses on crimes of international concern and seeks to ensure justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights on a global scale.

The core crimes under International Criminal Law include:

• Genocide: The intentional and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
• Crimes Against Humanity: Widespread or systematic attacks directed against a civilian population, including murder, enslavement, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances.
• War Crimes: Violations of the laws and customs of war, including targeting civilians, using prohibited weapons, and causing excessive civilian harm during armed conflict.
• Aggression: The use of armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of another state, in violation of international law.

International Criminal Law is enforced through various legal mechanisms, including international and hybrid criminal tribunals, national courts with universal jurisdiction, and the International Criminal Court (ICC). These institutions investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate cases involving individuals accused of committing international crimes.

International treaties, conventions, customary international law, and the jurisprudence of international courts and tribunals have shaped the development of International Criminal Law. Its evolution reflects the international community's commitment to promoting accountability, ending impunity, and upholding the principles of justice and human rights worldwide.