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International Criminal Law - LAWS9991
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Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 8
 
 
EFTSL: 0.16667 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 0
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: Academic Program must be either 9200, 9210, 9230, 9240, 5740, or 5760
 
 
Fee Band: 3 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

This course will endeavour to systematically analyse the most current state of international criminal law and its place in the modern international legal system in light of: (a) the entry into force of the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court since 1 July 2002 and the setting up of the International Criminal Court (ICC); (b) a series of judgments on the substantive criminal law rendered by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and that for Rwanda; and (c) other recent developments, such as the rise of international terrorism, and the establishment of tribunals in many parts of the world to punish international crimes, such as the Iraqi Tribunal set up to try Saddam Hussein and his subordinates. While the focus of the course will be on the substantive law, important procedural aspects will also be considered.

LLM Specialisations

International Law; Human Rights and Social Justice; Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

  • To make students understand the evolution, functions, substance, and implementation of international criminal law
  • To develop students' knowledge and understanding of international criminal law through critical assessment of the jurisprudence and State practice underpinning such law
  • To develop students' discipline in the advocacy of international criminal law

Main Topics

  • The examination of the distinction between international crimes and transnational crimes
  • International criminal procedures (extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters)
  • International terrorism and the law
  • Relevant international legal concepts, general principles of international criminal law, and the functioning of ad hoc international tribunals and their comparison with the ICC
  • Particular international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression), modes of participation in the commission of such crimes, and defences will then be analysed
  • Procedural aspects as well as the present and future implementations of international criminal law will also be covered.

Assessment

Class participation Preparation and engagement in class 10%
Take-home exam 90%
 

Course Texts

Prescribed
Kriangsak Kittichaisaree, International Criminal Law (Oxford University Press, July 2001)

Recommended
The textbook will be supplemented with materials available from websites as well as materials included online for each of the class.

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.