Exam 3 Flashcards
What international courts, tribunals, and commissions address war crimes and crimes against humanity?
Nuremberg Tribunal, Tokyo Tribunal, ICTY (Yugoslavia), ICTR (Rwanda), International Criminal Court (ICC), Special Court for Sierre Leone
Which international courts, tribunals, and commissions are temporary?
1) Nuremberg Tribunal (IMT)
2) Tokyo Tribunal
3) ICTY
4) ICTR
5) Truth and Reconcile Commission (TCR)
Which international courts, tribunals, and commissions are permanent?
1) International Criminal Court of Justice (ICJ)
2) European Court of Human Rights
3) ICC
How was the International Court of Justice established?
Primary judicial organ of the UN established in 1945 in The Hague, Netherlands
How was the European Court of Human Rights established?
Established under the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950 in Strasbourg, France
How was the International Military Tribunal (IMT) or The Nuremberg Trial established?
established from 1945-1946 in Nuremberg, Germany
How was the Tokyo Tribunals established?
established from 1946-1948 in Tokyo, Japan
How was the ICTY established?
established in 1993 by the UN Security Council
How was the ICTR established?
established in 1994 by the Security Council Resolution 955 in Arusha, Tanzania
How was the ICC established?
established by a multi-lateral treaty (Rome Treaty or Rome Statute) finalized in 1998
How was the Special Court of Sierra Leone established?
established in 2002 by an agreement between the UN and government of Sierra Leone in Freetown, Sierra Leone
How was the Cambodia Trial established?
established in 2003 by an agreement between the UN and Cambodia creating a joint court (international tribunal)
How was the Truth and Reconcile Commission (TRC) established?
established in 1995 in Cape Town, South Africa
Which international courts and tribunals have jurisdiction over states?
1) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
2) ICC
Which international courts and tribunals have jurisdiction over individuals?
1) European Court of Human Rights
2) Nuremberg Tribunal
3) Tokyo Tribunals
4) ICTY
5) ICTR
6) Special Court of Sierra Leone
7) Cambodia Tribunal
Why do some international courts and tribunals use primarily an indirect approach?
Their decisions are more recommendations
What is the International Court of Justice?
primary judicial organ of the UN
What are the functions of the International Court of Justice?
1) settle legal disputes submitted by member states
2) give advisory opinions on legal questions by the UN
Does the International Court of Justice deal with criminal cases?
No
What are the criticisms of the International Court of Justice?
1) “compulsory” jurisdiction is limited
2) organizations and individuals have no access
3) no full separation of powers (veto)
How many judges does the European Court of Human Rights have?
the number of member states (47 currently)
What kinds of cases does the European Court of Human Rights handle?
complaints from individuals about human rights violations perpetrated against them by their governments
What are some examples of recent decisions made by the European Court of Human Rights?
1) Russia responsible for murder of 4 Chechens (2007)
2) Soering vs the UK (1989): extradition to US violated right against inhumane and degrading treatment
What is the International Military Tribunal? (Nuremberg Tribunal)
trial of 24 surviving formal leaders of Hitler’s government
Which cases were brought before the International Military Tribunal?
24 former leaders of Hitler’s government charged with crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity
How was the International Military Tribunal composed?
4 judges, one from each of the Allied powers
What was the defense of the International Military Tribunal?
lawful actions or following orders
What was the outcome of the International Military Tribunal?
12 sentenced to death, 7 imprisoned, 3 acquitted
Why was the International Military Tribunal relevant for international law?
Nuremberg Principles were created:
1) individuals responsible
2) superior orders no help
3) official position no help
4) complicity is criminal
5) definition of international crimes
What are criticisms of the International Military Tribunal?
1) no appeal
2) victor’s justice (Allied crimes forgotten)
3) some key people not put on trial
4) indictments created ex post facto
Were any additional trials of German citizens conducted by the Americans?
yes there were many post-IMT trials
What is the International Military Tribunal for the Far East? (Tokyo Tribunal)
international court formed to prosecute the leaders of the Japanese military and civilian government for crimes against the Allies
Which cases were brought before the Tokyo Tribunal?
25 Japanese military and political leaders on trial for crimes against peace
How was the Tokyo Tribunal composed?
11 judges, 1 for each Allied nation
What was the outcome of the Tokyo Tribunal?
7 death sentences, 16 life imprisonments, 2 lighter sentences and 5700 Japanese nationals charged with war crimes (51% imprisonment)
What are criticisms of the Tokyo Tribunal?
1) similar to Nuremberg
2) victor’s justice
3) American bias
What is the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)?
international criminal tribunal to find justice for grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions in The Hague, Netherlands
What is the ICTY’s jurisdiction?
1) grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions
2) violations of the laws or customs of war
3) violations of genocide
4) violations of crimes against humanity
How is the ICTY organized?
1) Chambers (3 trial chambers + 1 Appeals)
2) Registry
3) Office of the Prosecutor
Why is the ICTY relevant for international law?
1) enforce the existing body of law
2) punishment of sexual violence in wartime
3) specified crucial elements of the crime of genocide
4) specified enslavement and persecution as parts of crimes against humanity
5) command responsibility
6) victims and witness program
7) established legal aid system
What are criticisms of the ICTY?
1) high cost
2) legitimacy (UN Security Council)
3) 5 indictees still at large
4) secret indictments create uncertainty
5) plea bargaining
6) citizens of NATO countries not prosecuted
7) help reconciliation and length of trials
What is the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)?
international criminal tribunal established in Arusha, Tanzania to seek justice for the 1994 Rwandan Genocide
What is the jurisdiction of the ICTR?
1) genocide
2) crimes against humanity
3) violations of Article 3 of Geneva Conventions committed in Rwanda in 1994
How is the ICTR organized?
1) Chambers
2) the Office of the Prosecutor
3) the Registry
Why is the ICTR relevant for international law?
1) the guilty plea for the crime of genocide
2) head of government convicted for genocide
3) interpreted the definition of genocide
4) rape and sexual violence may constitute genocide
5) role of the media examined in the context of international criminal justice
What are criticisms of the ICTR?
1) similar to ICTY criticisms
2) slow trials, key defendants still at large, only 14 cases in over a decade
3) does it enable reconciliation?
What is the ICC?
permanent court to enforce international criminal law
What is the ICC’s jurisdiction?
1) crimes against humanity
2) genocide
3) war crimes
4) crime of aggression (not yet)
What does the “complementarity principle” imply?
ICC acts only when a country is “unwilling” or “unable” to take up the case
How is the ICC organized?
1) Presidency
2) Chambers
3) Office of the Prosecutor
4) Registry
How extensive are the procedural rights provided to the defendants?
extensive
What is the Special Court for Sierra Leone?
international court to adjudicate crimes against humanity taking place in Sierra Leone since 1996
What is the jurisdiction for the Special Court for Sierra Leone?
1) crimes against humanity
2) war crimes
3) violations of domestic laws of Sierra Leone
Who are the judges for the Special Court for Sierra Leone?
1) Trial: 4 UN judges and 2 Sierra Leone judges
2) Appeals: 3 UN judges and 2 Sierra Leone judges
Why is the Special Court for Sierra Leone relevant for international law?
ruled on charges related to child soldiers
What is the Cambodia Tribunal?
joint court between the UN and Cambodia to prosecute those responsible for the deaths under the 1970s Khmer Rouge
Who are the judges of the Cambodia Tribunal?
Trial: 3 Cambodian and 2 UN
Supreme Court Chamber: 4 Cambodian and 3 UN
What procedural rules govern the work of the Cambodia Tribunal?
procedural rules based on the Cambodian rules
Does the Cambodia Tribunal have the right to impose the death penalty?
yes
What are Gacaca courts?
large scale Rwandan courts to process the tens of thousands of cases of non-leaders accused of participating in the 1994 genocide
How were the Gacaca courts established?
passed by Rwanda National Assembly in 2000
Who are the judges in the Gacaca courts?
a) 250,000 Rwandans elected
b) given basic judicial training
What are the criticisms of the Gacaca courts?
1) judges themselves were accused of crimes
2) victor’s justice?
3) slow
4) low confidence
5) few procedural rights
6) no appeals
What is the purpose of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa?
1) establish a picture of human rights violations
2) grant amnesty
3) allow victims to tell their accounts of events
4) produce the record
5) makes recommendations