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Unit Summary
Unit aim
Examines the historical roots of International Criminal Law and the rules of international individual criminal responsibility. Students will study a number of International crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes using case studies to highlight the application of the facts to the law and the legal findings in a particular case. The development and operation of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the structure and jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court will also be explored.
Unit content
Topic 1 - Introduction to International Criminal Law and its historical development prior to WWII
Topic 2 - International Prosecutions - from Nuremberg to the ad hoc tribunals and beyond
Topic 3 - The ICC
Topic 4 - Core international crimes - Part
- genocide
- crimes against humanity
- GBV crimes
Topic 5 – Core International crimes – Part II
- War crimes
- Aggression
Topic 6 - Modes of liability
Topic 7 – Defences
Topic 8 - Victims and Witnesses
Topic 9 – National Prosecutions and Non – Prosecutorial alternatives
Topic 10 – The future of ICL
Learning outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.
| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | |
|---|---|
| 1 | identify and outline the historical, social and political context of the events surrounding the crimes studied throughout this unit |
| 2 | demonstrate an awareness of the concept of individual international criminal responsibility and the rules of international criminal law |
| 3 | describe and analyse the main legal issues in respect of the international crimes studied during this unit |
| 4 | critically analyse the extent, consistency and adequacy of the international community's response to such crimes, and compare and contrast the variety of these responses |
| 5 | analyse the concept of a permanent International Criminal Court, and the various legal and non-legal issues surrounding its establishment |
| 6 | demonstrate an ability to conduct research in the field of international criminal justice, and enhance their skills in legal research, critical analysis and the written presentation of research and argument. |
| 7 | describe and analyse available legal defences under ICL |
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- identify and outline the historical, social and political context of the events surrounding the crimes studied throughout this unit
- demonstrate an awareness of the concept of individual international criminal responsibility and the rules of international criminal law
- describe and analyse the main legal issues in respect of the international crimes studied during this unit
- critically analyse the extent, consistency and adequacy of the international community's response to such crimes, and compare and contrast the variety of these responses
- analyse the concept of a permanent International Criminal Court, and the various legal and non-legal issues surrounding its establishment
- demonstrate an ability to conduct research in the field of international criminal justice, and enhance their skills in legal research, critical analysis and the written presentation of research and argument.
- describe and analyse available legal defences under ICL