(1) International(ised) Prosecutions Flashcards
5 difficulties in prosecuting intl crimes
1) hard to prove mens rea
2) hard to est responsibiltiy where someone maybe ordered but didn’t actually commit specific crime
3) limited resources
4) bias
5) can be hard to achieve TJ due to disconnect w affected communities
Advantages of internationalised prosecutions
key advantage is that atrocitiy crimes often perpetrated by state agents where after conflict may be ineffective, unavailable or too sensitive for national courts re impartiality and independence
- require intl court to provide legitimacy and deterrence for all
International Military Tribunal Nuremberg to prosecute NAzi leaders for what 3 crimes
1) crimes against peace (crimes of aggression)
2) war crimes
3) crimes against humanity
(similar court set up for Japanese leaders with the Tokyo Tribunals)
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) created by UNSC res per Ch VII: features
1) Primacy over national courts (art 9 Statute)
2) Transferred some smaller cases to the Bosnian War Crimes Chambers and national courts
Conflict in Yugoslavia - overview
- atrocities committed in waars leading to dissolution of former Yugislavia and creation of several independent states
- 130k + deaths, displacement of civilians, ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, torture, detention camps
ICTR per Ch VII - features:
1) jurisdiction over genocide, CAH, war crimes
2) primacy over national courts
Advantages of the ICTY
- huge impact on development of IHL and ICL
- individualisation of gulit, accountability of leaders
- achieved justice and truth
Disadvantages of ICTY
- no reconciliation
- $$$
- need for selectivity in prosecution of crimes problematic
Rwandan Genocide - overview
- gencodie committed during civil war, around 100 days in 1994
- Hutu militias killed 800k Tutsi and moderate Hutu
Advantages of ICTR
- developed ICL (first genocide conviction)
- recognised rape a means to perpetrate genocide
Disadvantages of ICTR
Inefficient and costly, didn’t promote reconciliation, far removed from Rwandan culture and victims, legitimacy
What’s the ICC’s jurisdiction?
genocide
CAH
War crimes
Crime of aggression
In order for ICC to exercise jurisdiction what is required?
1) state a party to the RS or has accepted ICC’s jurisdiction AND
2) crimes committed in state’s territory or
3) by its nationals
based on principle of complementarity - court of last resort, where national courts unable/unwilling to prosecute
Why are internationalised (hybrid) courts advantageous?
cheaper than intl prosecutions whilst addressing national courts’ incapacity to adjudicate mass atrocities following conflict aftermath
internationalised courts have international and national elements concerning
1) establishment (ie treaty btw host state nad UN) or other intl organisation
2) crimes and applicable law
3) staff
What’s the biggest issue that internationalised courts have?
concurrent jurisdiction! Gives uncertainty to D’s, victims, prosecutors of international crimes + risks undermining legitimacy of the internationalised court and undermining confidence in UN administrative authority that created the court
+ risk of accused being tried 2x for same acts violating ne bis in idem
Is there consistency with internationalised courts and domestic legal systems?
No
Which internationalised courts operated independently to the national systems?
1) Kosovo Panels
2) Special Court for Sierra Leone
Which internationalised courts operated within the national systems?
1) East Timor Panels
2) Extraordinary Chambers in Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)
3) BiH War Crimes Chamber
Does creating an internationalised court as part of natoinal system avoid concurrent jurisidction issues?
To an extent yes!
note that in East Timor Panels, Indonesia hindered effectiveness of the prosecutions by not aiding at all