International Criminal Law Seminar - 2234

This seminar is an introductory survey of the substantive and procedural aspects of international criminal law, a new and evolving area of law that has gained in prominence in the past decade. The course starts with an overview of fundamentals, focusing on the notion of international crimes and their historical evolution, as well as the general features and sources of international criminal law. Atrocity crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are covered. Additionally, crimes arising out of customary international law and/or international treaties and conventions are examined, including torture, piracy, terrorism, transnational organized crime, and human trafficking. A particular focus on venues for prosecution including the traditional use of national courts, universal jurisdiction, and international/hybrid criminal tribunals, as well as special defenses to these crimes, is presented. Finally, the relationship between states and international governmental organizations such as Interpol, Europol, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is explored from legal as well as operational perspectives.