The course aims at providing students with the understanding of the principles and the substantive and procedural rules of international criminal law, through the historical developments of the idea of individual criminal liability for international crimes and in-depth study of the law and its jurisprudential applications, particularly before the International Criminal Court.

Students will develop good knowledge of substantive norms of international criminal law, of the structure of international crimes and of procedures for their repression and will acquire the capacity to determine law to concrete cases. Students will be able to independently form their own views on events of present times.

History and evolution of international criminal law. Fundamentals of international criminal law. Elements of international crimes. Modes of liability. War crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism. Prosecution and punishment of international crimes. The Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals. The ad hoc tribunals. The International Criminal Court.

Cassese's International Criminal Law, Third Edition, Oxford University Press 2013 Cassese's International Law, Third Edition, Oxford University Press 2020 (pp. 427-453) Materials will be provided on the web site on case law and other matters discussed during classes

On campus lessons

While a written intermediate non compulsory test may be taken, at the final oral exam students will have to demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles of international criminal law, of the structure of international crimes and of procedural rules; and the ability to apply principles and norms to concrete cases, including of situations of mass atrocities in the present time.

Passing of the oral test