JUTINTCRIM – International Criminal Law
Course content
Note: This course will be given a new code from spring semester 2006, and you will find all relevant information JUR5570 – International Criminal Law (discontinued)
International Criminal Law is undergoing a dramatic development these days. This course seeks to present the most current state of this field and its place in the modern international legal system. The course will discuss the development of individual criminal responsibility under international law, including the notion of international crimes. The objective and subjective components of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and crime against peace will be discussed. Further, the course will discuss general principles of international criminal law, such as the principle of legality, guilt, modes of participation, defenses, jurisdiction and immunity.
The course will analyze the factual background and legal legal basis of the Nüremberg and Tokyo tribunals and International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, as well as selected jurisprudence of these tribunals. An emphasis will be placed on the statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) adopted in Rome 1998 and entered into force 1st July 2002. The role of the Security Council in the field of international criminal law will be discussed. Further, the course will discuss the implementation of international criminal law on the national level and some relevant jurisprudence of national courts.
The course will look at the various principles that may provide for national jurisdiction - such as universal jurisdiction, questions of immunity, and questions of extradition and abduction. The question whether States have an absolute duty under international law to prosecute international crimes will be discussed. Can a society deal with a former regime’s massive violations of human rights by other means than prosecution that is acceptable to the international community, for example a truth commission? The course will seek to discuss current themes such as (for example) the implications of international criminal law regarding military interventions like the one in Iraq and the relationship between international criminal law and terrorism.
Learning outcome
See above regarding requirements and syllabus (detailed course information)
Students will gain an overview over the current state of International Criminal Law and its historical evolution. Moreover, students will gain a detailed knowledge of the main rules for the International Criminal Court and its predecessors.
Admission
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If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
3 years of law studies.
Teaching
Lectures/seminars
Examination
6-hour written exam
Resit an examination
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Resitting an examination.
- There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take this exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.