The British Academy for Training and Development offers this training course "International Criminal Law" to provide legal professionals, practitioners, and researchers with an in-depth understanding of the foundations and applications of international criminal justice. As the international legal system evolves, it becomes increasingly necessary to understand the mechanisms of accountability for crimes that threaten global peace and security.

This course addresses the legal frameworks governing international crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. It also explores the functioning of international courts and tribunals such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and ad hoc tribunals. Participants will gain insights into the legal and political challenges of enforcing justice while balancing state sovereignty and international accountability.

Who should attend?

• Judges and prosecutors with a focus on international or serious crimes.

• Lawyers and legal advisers working in international organizations or human rights institutions.

• Researchers and academics in international law, criminal law, or human rights.

• Law enforcement officers involved in international investigations and legal cooperation.

Knowledge and Benefits:

After completing the program, participants will be able to master the following:

• Understand the general principles and historical evolution of international criminal law.

• Identify and analyze the core international crimes and their legal definitions.

• Examine the role and jurisdiction of international criminal tribunals and the ICC.

• Explore the interplay between international criminal law and national legal systems.

• Evaluate legal procedures, rights of the accused, and standards of fair trial at the international level.

Introduction to International Criminal Law

• Definition and Sources of International Criminal Law

  • Legal development and scope

  • Sources: treaties, custom, general principles

  • Differences from national criminal law

• Principles of Individual Criminal Responsibility

  • Liability for international crimes

  • Rejection of impunity

  • Responsibility for unlawful orders

• Historical Evolution of International Criminal Law

  • Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals

  • Development of ad hoc courts

  • Establishment of the ICC

Core International Crimes

• Genocide

  • Definition under the 1948 Genocide Convention

  • Material and mental elements

  • Case law and interpretation

• Crimes Against Humanity

  • Contextual elements and legal distinctions

  • Types of acts covered

  • Judicial developments

• War Crimes

  • Violations of international humanitarian law

  • International vs. non-international armed conflicts

  • Protection of combatants and civilians

Crime of Aggression

• Concept of Aggression in International Law

  • Definition under the UN Charter

  • Role of the Security Council

  • Attribution of responsibility

• Development of the Crime of Aggression

  • Early interpretations

  • Kampala Amendments

  • Legal implications

• Jurisdiction over the Crime of Aggression

  • Conditions for exercise of jurisdiction

  • Relationship between state and accused

  • Practical enforcement challenges

The International Criminal Court (ICC)

• Rome Statute and the ICC Structure

  • Jurisdiction and legal principles

  • Institutional framework of the Court

  • Trigger mechanisms for cases

• Procedural Stages before the ICC

  • Preliminary examinations and investigations

  • Trial and appeal process

  • Sentence enforcement

• Roles of Prosecutors and Defence Lawyers

  • Prosecutorial powers and obligations

  • Defence rights and guarantees

  • Victim and witness protection

Ad Hoc and Hybrid Criminal Tribunals

• ICTY – International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

  • Legal and political background

  • Jurisdiction and major cases

  • Legacy and impact

• ICTR – International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

  • Legal response to genocide

  • Successes and limitations

  • Influence on international law

• Hybrid Courts

  • Special Court for Sierra Leone

  • Special Tribunal for Lebanon

  • Mixed features and operational differences

Relationship Between International and National Jurisdictions

• Complementarity Principle

  • Primacy of domestic jurisdictions

  • When the ICC intervenes

  • Challenges to domestic prosecution

• National Legislation and Incorporation of International Crimes

  • Harmonization with the Rome Statute

  • State practices and legal reforms

  • Successful national examples

• Extradition and Judicial Cooperation

  • International arrest warrants

  • Transfer procedures

  • Legal and political obstacles

Fair Trial Standards in International Criminal Law

• Fundamental Guarantees for the Accused

  • Right to defence and legal assistance

  • Presumption of innocence

  • Right to appeal

• Protection of Witnesses and Victims

  • Security and confidentiality measures

  • Participation before the court

  • Balancing transparency and protection

• Criminal Justice vs. Transitional Justice

  • Comparative definitions

  • Role in post-conflict societies

  • Amnesty and reconciliation mechanisms

Criminal Responsibility of Political and Military Leaders

• Command Responsibility and Hierarchical Liability

  • Responsibility for subordinates

  • “Knew or should have known” standard

  • Leadership trials and precedents

• Denial of Official Immunity

  • Immunity before national and international courts

  • Trials of sitting or former heads of state

  • Equality before the law

• Precedents in Leadership Prosecutions

  • Nuremberg and post-war tribunals

  • Cases: Hussein, Milosevic, Taylor

  • Implications for global justice

Challenges Facing International Criminal Justice

• Politicization and International Influence

  • Geopolitical interference in justice

  • Accusations of double standards

  • Crisis of credibility in international courts

• Enforcement and Cooperation Issues

  • Non-compliance by states

  • Refusal to execute arrest warrants

  • Institutional limitations

• Contemporary Issues in International Criminal Law

  • Cybercrimes with international impact

  • Terrorism as an international crime

  • Use of prohibited weapons

Future of International Criminal Law

• Prospects for the ICC and Legal Development

  • Jurisdictional expansion

  • Institutional independence and reform

  • Membership and universal ratification

• Role of International and Regional Organizations

  • UN and Security Council mandates

  • European and African Union roles

  • Civil society contributions

• Reform Proposals for the International Criminal System

  • Strengthening enforcement powers

  • Enhancing transparency and accountability

  • Supporting national legal systems