International Criminal Tribunals Quiz

The attempt to prosecute Kaiser Wilhelm II for war crimes following WWI, as established by the Treaty of Versailles.

A series of trials held in Leipzig after WWI, which sought to try German individuals for war crimes. Unlike the Versailles Treaty, which attempted to prosecute the Kaiser, Leipzig focused on individuals.

A major international tribunal established in Nuremberg, Germany, after WWII. It tried high-ranking Nazi officials for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace.

The legal document that defined the structure and procedures of the Nuremberg Trials. It outlined crimes to be prosecuted and principles of individual responsibility.

One of the core charges at the Nuremberg Trials, referring to crimes committed against individuals, including murder, enslavement, persecution, and deportation.

A legal principle that holds individuals responsible for their actions, regardless of their position within a hierarchy. Used in the Nuremberg Trials to hold Nazi officials accountable.

A legal concept that states that laws cannot be applied retroactively. It was raised as a potential challenge to the Nuremberg Trials, as the crimes prosecuted were not explicitly illegal at the time they were committed.

A legal principle developed by Gustav Radbruch, which suggests that extremely unjust laws lose their legal character. This principle helped justify the Nuremberg Trials, despite the argument of non-retroactivity.

The principle that a state has authority to prosecute crimes committed within its borders.

The principle that a state has jurisdiction over its own nationals, regardless of where the crime occurs.

A state can exercise jurisdiction over crimes that harm its vital interests, such as national security.

A state can prosecute crimes against its nationals, even if committed abroad.

A state can prosecute certain crimes, such as genocide, regardless of where the crime occurred or the perpetrator's nationality.

The principle that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime.

The practice of choosing the jurisdiction most favorable to the accused.

A state must demonstrate a meaningful connection to a crime to exercise jurisdiction.

Established by the UN Security Council in 1994, the ICTR is a tribunal responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of genocide and other serious violations of international law during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

The ICTR was based in Arusha, Tanzania, and operated from 1995 to 2015. It indicted 93 individuals and convicted 62.

The ICTR's legal basis stems from Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which authorizes the UN Security Council to take action in cases of threats to international peace and security.

Akayesu's conviction by the ICTR marked a historical turning point. His case marked the first conviction for genocide by an international court.

Similar to ICTY, the ICTR was an ad hoc tribunal created to address a specific conflict, but with a key difference: It dealt with pre-existing principles of individual responsibility and codified international crimes.

Internationalised Domestic Tribunals combine international and national justice mechanisms to address crimes. Examples include the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

Transitional justice mechanisms refer to various approaches aimed at addressing the aftermath of a conflict or period of repression. They encompass legal and non-legal actions such as truth commissions, reparations, and memorial sites.

The ICTR was a notable component of transitional justice in Rwanda. Its focus on punishment, while important, is just one aspect. Other mechanisms like truth commissions, reparations, and memorial sites contribute to the overall process of addressing past violations.

The ICC was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, a treaty signed in 1998 and entered into force in 2002.

The ICC's jurisdiction is limited to crimes committed after the Rome Statute entered into force. This means that the court cannot prosecute crimes that occurred before this date.

The ICC's jurisdiction applies only to crimes committed in the territories of member states or by citizens of member states. This means the court cannot prosecute individuals from non-member states for crimes committed outside of member states.

The ICC has the capacity to investigate and prosecute individuals for crimes within its jurisdiction, even when national courts are unwilling or unable to do so. This is known as complementarity.

The ICC's jurisdiction is limited to the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. These crimes fall under four categories: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

The composition of the ICC includes 18 judges, each serving a nine-year term and representing different member states. The judges must be persons of high moral character, impartiality, and integrity, possessing the qualifications required for the highest judicial offices in their respective countries.

The ICC's location is in The Hague, Netherlands. It functions as a permanent court with the capacity to prosecute individuals for crimes within its jurisdiction. It is not a universal court but rather a court with jurisdiction over signatory members, with its authority resting on the Rome Statute.

A State Party can formally request the ICC Prosecutor to investigate a situation where crimes within the court's jurisdiction might have been committed.

The Prosecutor can initiate an investigation on their own initiative, based on information received about possible crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction.

The Prosecutor gathers evidence, analyzes its seriousness, and seeks additional information before submitting a request to the Pre-Trial Chamber for authorization to investigate.

The Prosecutor presents a detailed request to the Pre-Trial Chamber for authorization to investigate, along with supporting evidence. Victims can also make representations to the Pre-Trial Chamber.

The Pre-Trial Chamber reviews the Prosecutor's request and decides if there's enough reason to believe an investigation is warranted, considering the ICC's jurisdiction.

When the Pre-Trial Chamber finds enough evidence and the case aligns with ICC jurisdiction, they authorize the Prosecutor to start a formal investigation.

Even after the investigation is authorized, the ICC can still decide later on whether the case truly falls under their jurisdiction and should be admitted.

This refers to the ICC's ability to pursue cases based on information from various sources, including states, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other reliable sources.

The ICC has the authority to act in certain situations if a state is unwilling or unable to prosecute the crime. The ICC is there to act as a backup when national courts are inadequate.

The ICC is empowered to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of certain crimes only if a state is unwilling or unable to do so.

The ICC can investigate and prosecute crimes in situations where a state is unwilling to do so, such as when the national proceedings are made for the purpose of shielding the accused, the process is excessively delayed, or investigations are not conducted independently or impartially.

The ICC can investigate and prosecute a situation if the UN Security Council refers it to the Prosecutor.

The Prosecutor can ask the Pre-Trial Chamber to authorize an investigation again after the initial request is denied, if new facts or evidence emerges.

The Prosecutor must inform those who provided information if they conclude that the information is not sufficient for an investigation.

The Prosecutor can consider new facts or evidence regarding a situation even if an initial investigation was rejected.