Law Module 1: Introduction to International Humanitarian and International Criminal Law
We will examine the underpinnings of the laws of war (commonly referred to as international humanitarian law) and the relatively new field of international criminal law. We will also review judgments on three forms of criminal liability: superior/command responsibility, aiding and abetting, and joint criminal enterprise.
Key Questions:
What are international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law? And how are they different? Do they in any way overlap?
What is meant by a “just” and “unjust” war?
Briefly describe the work of three international organizations involved in investigating violations of international humanitarian law.
How is superior/command responsibility defined in international law?
Required Readings:
In Crimes of War, read sections on Jus ad Bellum/Jus in Bello (275); Just and Unjust Wars (276); War Crimes, Categories of (420-422); Gray Areas in International Humanitarian Law (196-197); Proportionality, Principle of (342) ; Protected Persons (342-343); Civilian Immunity (103); Shields (378-381); Immunity from Attack (234-235); and Chemical Weapons (93-94).
In Reporting Justice, read “Chapter 1 – The Fight Against Impunity” (2-9, available at http://www.iwpr.net/fr/reporting-justice-handbook-covering-war-crimes-courts
International Committee of the Red Cross, “What is International Humanitarian Law?,” available at http://www.ehl.icrc.org/images/resources/pdf/what_is_ihl.pdf.
Bruce Cronin, “International Law,” World at Risk: A Global Issues Sourcebook, Second Edition (CQ Press, 2010) (495-517).
“Brief Primer on International Humanitarian Law,” The Program for Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research, available at http://ihl.ihlresearch.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewpage&pageid=2083.
“U.N. Legal Counsel O’Brien on the rule of law, international criminal justice, responsibility to protect,” InterLawGrrls, available at http://www.intlawgrrls.com/2012/10/un-legal-counsel-obrien-on-rule-of-law.html.
Chacha Bhoke Murungu, “International Criminal Justice and Africa”, available at thinkafricapress.com/international-law-africa/icc.
Selected Online Resources:
Crimes of War Project, available at www.crimesofwar.org (the themes of the Crimes of War book are developed and applied to ongoing conflicts).
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), available at www.icrc.org (full texts of international humanitarian law treaties and commentaries are provided).
United Nations, available at www.un.org.law (offers information about international law and UN-sponsored courts and tribunals).
Amnesty International’s Campaign for International Justice, available at www.amnesty.org/en/international-justice (provides information related to international crimes and humanitarian law violations).
Human Rights Watch, available at www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/international-justice (features news releases, reports and commentaries on contemporary international humanitarian and criminal law issues).
Human Rights First, available at www.humanrightsfirst.org/about_us/about_us.aspx (offers research data relevant to international humanitarian and criminal law violations).
Maxwell Chibundu, “Sources of International Law”, available at thinkafricapress.com/international-law-africa/sources.