Other
International criminal tribunals and courts - ASSIGNMENT
- Module
- Institution
International crimineel tribunals and courts - ASSIGNMENT International Human Rights law University of Groningen 2022 Teacher: Scott OSCOLA
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
studentrechten1200
Reviews received
Content preview
International Criminal Tribunals and Courts 2021-2022University of Groningen
Assignment: question 2: essay
Wordcount: 2900 words
Teacher: Scott
Table of contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 2
1. What makes one crime more serious than another?...................................................................................3
1.1 Definitions and elements of the international crimes...................................................................................3
1.2 Can greater punishment indicate the relative heinousness of a crime?........................................................4
2. International tribunals and courts; case law analysis..................................................................................5
2.1 War crimes vs crimes against humanity........................................................................................................6
2.1.1 Erdemovic case (ICTY).............................................................................................................................6
2.1.2 Tadic case (ICTY).....................................................................................................................................7
2.1.2.1 Dissenting opinions..............................................................................................................................8
2.2 Genocide vs crimes against humanity and war crimes..................................................................................9
2.2.1 The Akayesu and Kambanda cases of the ICTR....................................................................................10
3. The debate; is there a hierarchy?.............................................................................................................. 11
4. Conclusion............................................................................................................................................... 12
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................ 13
, Genocide, the crime of crimes?
Introduction
Since the Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin invented the term genocide in 1944 in his
book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe, the crime of genocide has gained primacy within
international law.1 Trial Chamber I in the case of Prosecutor v Jean Kambanda
designated genocide as the “crime of crimes” 2 and scholars such as William Schabas
have maintained that genocide belongs at the apex of the pyramid in the hierarchy of
crimes.3 This paper will critically reflect on this statement by ascertaining whether the
crime of genocide can indeed be seen as the crime of crimes and is therefore more
serious than crimes against humanity and/or war crimes. This paper ascertains that
legally the crime of genocide has primacy over other crimes but explores if genocide
has primacy over crimes against humanity and/or war crimes.
To analyse this question, this paper will look at the relevant legal instruments, as well
as the case law of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia
(ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda (ICTR), to understand
what the approaches of the Tribunals are when it comes to the hierarchy of crimes,
and whether the ICTY or the ICTR do, in practice, consider genocide to be more
severe than crimes against humanity and/or war crimes. This paper will also touch
upon de views of scholars in the literature. A conclusion will then be drawn
considering the findings of different sections of the paper.
1
Raphael Lemkin, Axis Rule in Occupied Europe: Laws of Occupation, Analysis of Government,
Proposals for Redress (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 1944), p. 79.
2
The Prosecutor v. Jean Kambanda (Trial Chamber), ICTR 97-23-S, International Criminal Tribunal
for Rwanda (ICTR), 4 September 1998, para 16.
3
William A. Schabas, Genocide in International Law (CUP 2009) p. 10-11.
2
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller studentrechten1200. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £9.03. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67096 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now