SELECTED TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW

Anno accademico 2022/2023 - 4° anno

Risultati di apprendimento attesi

Knowledge and understanding
The course aims at providing students, who have already acquired a basic knowledge of criminal law, with the fundamental principles and the main issues of international criminal justice system, with a particular attention to the experience of the International Criminal Court and the provisions of the Statute of Rome.
Applying knowledge and understanding
The course aims at providing students with the necessary tools to analyse the main figures of international crimes, stimulating a reflection on the gradual development of a general theory of international criminal law. It also aims to stimulate students to carry out the analysis of the conceptual categories which are the basis for the activities of international criminal tribunals; while taking its origin from the national frameworks, the principles are logically modeled on the specific structural characteristics of the main figures of international crimes, and more generally, on the dynamics of the international criminal responsibility of the person. The student will therefore acquire a critical investigation method to enable him to fully understand the most innovative aspects as well as the shortcomings and inconsistencies of the current legislative framework and of the solutions adopted by the courts.
Making judgements
By dealing with the provisions of the Rome Statute as well as the experience of the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Tribunals, students will acquire the necessary skills to make personal comments, legally founded and logically argued, with regard to the main political-criminal issues of international criminal justice system.
Communication
Students will acquire the technical language which is typical of international criminal law and the ability to use it appropriately, in order to express themselves, with competence and self-confidence, on the issues which arise in this specific field of criminal law.
Lifelong learning skills
Students will be provided with the learning ability which is necessary to deepen the study of international criminal law in the continuation of their career. In this way, the progressive expansion of their cultural background will be possible, so that they will be able to continue studying the conceptual categories of this branch of criminal law, as well as their practical application, during the professional path following their graduation.

Modalità di svolgimento dell'insegnamento

L'insegnamento è svolto mediante lezioni frontali; l’attiva partecipazione degli studenti alla discussione sarà fortemente incoraggiata.

Qualora l'insegnamento venisse impartito in modalità mista o a distanza potranno essere introdotte le necessarie variazioni rispetto a quanto dichiarato in precedenza, al fine di rispettare il programma previsto e riportato nel Syllabus.

Informazioni per studenti con disabilità e/o DSA
A garanzia di pari opportunità e nel rispetto delle leggi vigenti, gli studenti interessati possono chiedere un colloquio personale col docente in modo da programmare eventuali misure compensative e/o dispensative, in base agli obiettivi didattici ed alle specifiche esigenze.
È possibile rivolgersi anche al docente referente CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata - Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) del nostro Dipartimento, prof. Condorelli.

 

Prerequisiti richiesti

Per le propedeuticità formali consultare il regolamento didattico della coorte di riferimento disponibile nella pagina dedicata http://www.lex.unict.it/it/chi-siamo/regolamenti-didattici-del-corso-di-laurea-magistrale-ciclo-unico-giurisprudenza-lmg01

Frequenza lezioni

Vivamente consigliata.

Contenuti del corso

A) Notion, history and evolution of international criminal law. The contribution to the development of international criminal law of the Nuremberg and Tokyo International Military Tribunals; the ad hoc tribunals; hybrid courts.

B) The International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute. Jurisdiction. Trigger mechanisms. Principle of complementarity. Institutions. Procedures. Sanctions and enforcement. 

C) The general part of international criminal law. Interpretation and fundamental principles. Structure of core international crimes: the material elements; the mental elements; grounds for excluding criminal responsibility. Individual criminal responsibility: perpetration; accessorship. Superior responsibility. Attempt. Omission.

D) Special part of international criminal law: genocide; crimes against humanity; war crimes; aggression.

Testi di riferimento

Per A), B) e D): Helmut Satzger, International and European Criminal Law, Hart/Nomos, 2018, pp. 215-234; 235-261; 293-326 (disponibile presso la biblioteca del Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza);

Per C): 

1) Studenti frequentanti: Helmut Satzger, International and European Criminal Law, Hart/Nomos, 2018, pp. 262-292 e materiale fornito dal docente a lezione;

2) Studenti non frequentanti: Otto Triffterer - Kai Ambos (a cura di), Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: A Commentary, C.H. Beck/Hart/Nomos, III ed., 2016, p. 949-1196 (disponibile presso la biblioteca del Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza).

 


Programmazione del corso

 ArgomentiRiferimenti testi
1Notion of international criminal law. A
2History and evolution of international criminal law. Overview.A
3Indirect enforcement of international criminal law. Direct enforcement of international criminal law.A
4The international Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East. A
5The International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Hybrid courts.A
6Practice of ICTY, ICTR and hybrid courts. A
7The International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute. Jurisdiction. B
8Trigger mechanisms. Principle of complementarity.B
9Institutions. Procedures.B
10Sanctions and enforcement.B
11The general part of international criminal law. Interpretation.C
12Fundamental principles.C
13Structure of core international crimes. The material elements.C
14The mental elements.C
15Grounds for excluding criminal responsibility.C
16Individual criminal responsibility. Perpetration. Accessorship.C
17Superior responsibility.C
18Special part of international criminal law. Genocide.D
19Crimes against humanity.D
20War crimes.D
21Aggression.D

VERIFICA DELL'APPRENDIMENTO

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

Oral exam

The test/exam will be assessed according to the following criteria established by the Board of the Degree Course (September 17, 2018):

  • aptness of answers
  • quality and comprehension of the syllabus
  • ability to link different topics of the syllabus
  • ability to show examples
  • use of jargon and terms of art
  • general communicative skills
  • familiarity with legal texts

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

Esempi di domande e/o esercizi frequenti

Indirect enforcement of international criminal law; the Nuremberg trials; the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia; the principle of complementarity; structure of international crimes; the contextual element; the mental elements; grounds for excluding criminal responsibility; mistake of fact; perpetration; superior responsibility; genocide.

ENGLISH VERSION