International Criminal Law

Subject LAWS70033 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

June, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Coordinator

Prof Tim Mccormack

Contact

For the most up-to-date information about this subject, contact the Melbourne Law Masters Office by email at law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone 8344 6190 or alternatively visit the subject website: www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

Principal topics will include:

  • The nature of law, war and crime
  • Concept of individual criminal responsibility for violations of international law
  • Elaboration of basic crimes
  • Universal jurisdiction
  • International criminal courts
  • Truth commissions
  • Civil remedies
  • Case studies, e.g. Cambodia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone.
Objectives:

This subject will focus on individual accountability for human rights abuses, including the substantive law providing for such responsibility and the range of mechanisms available for holding individuals accountable. A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Locate the law of war crimes in the great moral and political dilemmas of the last half century
  • Understand the concept of individual criminal responsibility for violations of international law
  • Assimilate the core crimes, as well as critical extensions of culpability such as command responsibility, and key defences such as duress or superior orders
  • Be aware of the historical development of international criminal law
  • Appreciate the relationship between national and international jurisdiction for the prosecution of international crimes
  • Be conversant with the advantages and disadvantages of prosecutions compared to other methods of individual accountability, including the debate over amnesties and pardons
  • Understand the full range of non-prosecutorial mechanisms for holding individuals accountable, including truth commissions and civil suits
  • Comprehend the basic workings of the United Nations' ad hoc criminal tribunals and the permanent International Criminal Court.
Assessment:

3 hour examination (100%) (9 July, pm)
or
10,000 word research paper (100%) (30 August) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

Prescribed Texts: Visit the subject website for more information
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Links to further information: http://www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au/

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