Module Information

Module Identifier
LAM4620
Module Title
Sources of International Criminal Law
Academic Year
2014/2015
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 22 hours; 11x2 hour seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT OF 5,000-6,000 WORDS  80%
Semester Assessment ORAL PRESENTATION  20%
Supplementary Assessment WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT OF 5,000-6,000 WORDS TO BE RESUBMITTED, IF FAILED  80%
Supplementary Assessment ORAL PRESENTATION OR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT IN LIEU OF ORAL PRESENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED, IF FAILED  20%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Display a knowledge and understanding of the main sources of International Criminal Law.
2. Present critical and well-informed argument relating to the interpretation of these sources.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of incorporating international crimes into a statute.
4. Identify and evaluate the relevance of historical and contemporary sources that are key to the development of international criminal law
5. Critically analyze the relevant literature and materials in this field and use them in critical discussion of the subject.

Brief description

Modern international criminal law was invented in the context of World War Two. It arose from the determination of the allied powers to prosecute Nazi war criminals for the atrocities of World War Two. This determination took the form of judicial proceedings revolving around the implementation of the Nuremberg Charter. Until very recently, the Nuremberg trials were the only such prosecutions in history. Today the number of international criminal law sources has increased considerably: they include the Statutes of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and most recently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In formulating and applying substantive international criminal law the tribunals rely on a number of sources which this module will consider.

Content

Modern international criminal law was invented in the context of World War Two. It arose from the determination of the allied powers to prosecute Nazi war criminals for the atrocities of World War Two. This determination took the form of judicial proceedings revolving around the implementation of the Nuremberg Charter. Until very recently, the Nuremberg trials were the only such prosecutions in history. Today the number of international criminal law sources has increased considerably: they include the Statutes of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and most recently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In formulating and applying substantive international criminal law the tribunals rely on a number of sources which this module will consider.


Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7