Foundations of International Criminal Law module (LW31033)

International criminal law (ICL) is a body of international rules designed to forbid specific categories of conduct such as:

• war crimes
• crimes against humanity
• genocide
• torture
• and aggression

ICL helps make the persons who engage in such conduct criminally liable. ICL either authorises States or imposes upon them the obligation to prosecute and punish such criminal conduct. This happens regardless of their status in domestic law.

ICL also regulates international proceedings before international courts and tribunals. These are done for prosecuting and trying persons accused of such crimes.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• identify international criminal law
• study selected international crimes
• learn the key institutions, procedures, and impediments to the prosecution of international crimes
• gain an advanced awareness of the parameters of international criminal law
• gain an advanced awareness of how international crimes are established
• gain a substantial understanding of how states co-operate in relation to criminal matters. You will also gain an understanding of the limits of that co-operation

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• describe international criminal laws, crimes, institutions, procedures, and impediments to prosecution
• describe the parameters of international criminal law and how international crimes are established
• describe how states cooperate when it concerns criminal matters and the limits of that co-operation

Assignments / assessment

• coursework (25%)
• online open book exam (75%)

Teaching methods / timetable

The module will be delivered through lectures, student-led seminars, and independent study.

The seminars will involve researching an area of law and discussing it in depth in groups. There may be opportunities for you to make impromptu presentations. You may also be asked to tackle various impromptu problems during the seminars. This will encourage you to think about issues from a perspective different from when you are reading in preparation for the class.