Magister Legum - LLM

Magister Legum - LLM

Magister Legum - LLM / Objective of the study – The primary goal of this research study was to investigate and document the evolution and historical development of the crime of aggression. Design / methodology / approach – The research study was primarily a desk-top based research by design and methodology. It reviews a range of published books, expert commentaries, and journal articles that provide theoretical and practical research on the evolution and development of crime of aggression through the past centuries to the present day. The discussion is majorly premised around key historical debates and events that shaped, and defined the rubric of the crime of aggression. These include: the philosophers' conceptualisation of the doctrine of "just war" or "unjust war", states' practice before and after the First World War and Second World War, the International Military Tribunals, the birth and role of the United Nations, the 1998 Rome Conference and the 2010 Kampala ICC Review Conference. Findings – This study provides information on each author's perspective on the status of the crime of aggression before and after the First ICC Review Conference. The study generally concedes that although today the crime of aggression is defined under the Rome Statute, and the jurisdiction of the ICC over it spelt out; its status under the treaty regime remains distinctly different from that under international customary law. Significance of the study – The significance of this research study lies in the fact that it is useful with regard to documenting the historical development of the crime of aggression. It also fulfils an identified need to clarify the position of the crime of aggression after the landmark First ICC Review Conference that took place in Kampala during May / June 2010. Study type – Postgraduate university Master of Laws research paper.

This thesis employs a social constructionist perspective to analyze constructions of the International Criminal Court (ICC), specifically (1) the notion of impunity; (2) the presence of a critical analysis; and (3) the connection between state support/opposition and favourable/negative portrayals of the Court. The theory chapter focuses on the propaganda model’s main premise that “media serve the interests of that state … framing their reporting and analysis in a manner supportive of established privilege and limiting debate accordingly” (Herman & Chomsky, 1998, p.32). A thematic qualitative content analysis and several tools of grounded theory deconstructed 1,982 articles collected from The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Overall, the newspapers contained a high level of support for the propaganda model’s main assertions. Some of these conversations were quite limited and/or biased; specifically, American newspapers manipulated debates to justify American opposition to the Court.

There is a stark regress in the development of international criminal justice, in particular the fight against impunity on the African continent. This study explores various legal aspects that have arisen between Africa and the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the indictment of President al-Bashir of Sudan by the Court. There is a presumption of conflict between some provisions of the Rome Statute, particularly Article 27 and Article 98. The indictment of President al-Bashir ICC has been the epitome of such a presumption. The African Union (AU) is among those opposed to the indictment of President al-Bashir and has requested the Security Council to defer the matter in accordance with Article 16 of the Rome Statute. The regional body has also refused to cooperate with the ICC in the arresting and surrendering of President al-Bashir to the Court on the basis of Article 98. Therefore, this study seeks to critically analyse the indictment of President al-Bashir by the ICC and the AU’s response to the same. The study further explores the legal validity of a deferral by the UN Security Council and the challenges it would will raise. The study also attempts to reconcile article 27 and article 98 of the Rome Statute in the context of President al Bashir’s indictment. In doing so, the study endeavours to weigh the legal elements in both of the arguments offered in support and against the action taken by the ICC. The reason for such a discussion is to investigate the nature of the jurisdiction the Court has upon President al-Bashir by virtue of UN Security Council Resolution 1593(2005), which referred the al Bashir case to the court. The discussion also investigates the nature of the legal obligations on members of the international community including Sudan, to cooperate with the ICC by arresting and surrendering President al-Bashir to the Court. In an effort to garner support for the ICC’s indictment of President al-Bashir, the study also looks at the operation of the principle of complementarity under the Rome Statute and various principles of International Criminal Law that affirm the ICC’s jurisdiction over the situation in Darfur and those principles that speak to the presumed liability of President al-Bashir. Although this study acknowledges the apparent competing demands of justice and peace, it challenges arguments that promote impunity and makes the case for addressing the AU’s concerns relating to the ICC. More importantly, the study suggests that the UN Security Council and the ICC should be consistent and in condemning atrocities wherever they are committed and should be impartial in referring perpetrators of atrocities to the ICC irrespective of their political status. In so doing a clear message may be sent to individuals like President al-Bashir that commission of atrocities will invite international accountability. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Public Law / unrestricted

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Contrariando a clássica concepção que se estabeleceu como paradigma e, praticamente, converteu-se em obstáculo epistemológico à idéia de que era possível um Direito Penal universal, consolida-se, cada vez mais, o fenômeno da internacionalização do direito, notadamente do direito penal. Este movimento de internacionalização do Direito Penal surge de uma dinâmica bipolarizada, vale dizer, por um lado alimentada pelas sistemáticas violações aos direitos humanos e, por outro, fomentada pelo sonho de um instrumento com legitimidade internacional para punir e processar os crimes mais graves à humanidade. Porém, ao contrário do quanto se pode imaginar, este ideal de proteção internacional dos Direitos Humanos não é novo e só com a superação da clássica concepção de soberania é que se completa o conjunto de condições compatíveis com a internacionalização do direito. Neste contexto surge a necessidade de aproximação entre os Direitos Humanos e o Direito Penal, já que estas ciências sempre foram consideradas incompatíveis entre si. Esta aproximação foi concretizada através do Tribunal Penal Internacional, porquanto sua implementação com o Estatuto de Roma, enquanto instrumento para repressão das mais graves violações aos Direitos Humanos, representa esperança de garantia aos direitos mais íntimos à família humana. / The phenomenon of law internationalization, specially criminal law, is increasingly consolidating, in spite of the established classical paradigm that practically turned into an epistemological obstacle to the idea that it was possible a universal criminal law. This trend of criminal law internationalization arises from a polarized dynamic, that is, one hand, fueled by systematic human rights violations and also fostered by the dream of an instrument with international legitimacy to punish and prosecute the most serious crimes against humanity. However, contrary to what one might imagine, this ideal of international protection of Human Rights is not new and only with the overcoming of the classical conception of sovereignty is that the set of conditions consistent with international law is complete. In this context, it arises the need for rapprochement between Human Rights and Criminal Law, since these sciences have always been considered incompatible. This approach was made through the International Criminal Court as its implementation with Rome Statute, as a tool for repression of the most serious human rights violations, represents hope of guarantee to the most intimate rights to the human family.

Magister Legum - LLM (Criminal Justice and Procedure) / In previous centuries, millions of women, men and children were victims of inconceivable atrocities that deeply shocked the scruples of mankind. Regrettably, such crimes often went unpunished in the past. Several people lost lives in the two world wars and in conflicts in Rwanda, Sierra Leone and the former Yugoslavia. Although the International Military Tribunal and ad hoc courts prosecuted some of the major perpetrators in these conflicts, before then, many criminals such as German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, remained unpunished. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first permanent court with jurisdiction over the most malignant crimes threatening the peace, security and well-being of the world.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Contrariando a clássica concepção que se estabeleceu como paradigma e, praticamente, converteu-se em obstáculo epistemológico à idéia de que era possível um Direito Penal universal, consolida-se, cada vez mais, o fenômeno da internacionalização do direito, notadamente do direito penal. Este movimento de internacionalização do Direito Penal surge de uma dinâmica bipolarizada, vale dizer, por um lado alimentada pelas sistemáticas violações aos direitos humanos e, por outro, fomentada pelo sonho de um instrumento com legitimidade internacional para punir e processar os crimes mais graves à humanidade. Porém, ao contrário do quanto se pode imaginar, este ideal de proteção internacional dos Direitos Humanos não é novo e só com a superação da clássica concepção de soberania é que se completa o conjunto de condições compatíveis com a internacionalização do direito. Neste contexto surge a necessidade de aproximação entre os Direitos Humanos e o Direito Penal, já que estas ciências sempre foram consideradas incompatíveis entre si. Esta aproximação foi concretizada através do Tribunal Penal Internacional, porquanto sua implementação com o Estatuto de Roma, enquanto instrumento para repressão das mais graves violações aos Direitos Humanos, representa esperança de garantia aos direitos mais íntimos à família humana. / The phenomenon of law internationalization, specially criminal law, is increasingly consolidating, in spite of the established classical paradigm that practically turned into an epistemological obstacle to the idea that it was possible a universal criminal law. This trend of criminal law internationalization arises from a polarized dynamic, that is, one hand, fueled by systematic human rights violations and also fostered by the dream of an instrument with international legitimacy to punish and prosecute the most serious crimes against humanity. However, contrary to what one might imagine, this ideal of international protection of Human Rights is not new and only with the overcoming of the classical conception of sovereignty is that the set of conditions consistent with international law is complete. In this context, it arises the need for rapprochement between Human Rights and Criminal Law, since these sciences have always been considered incompatible. This approach was made through the International Criminal Court as its implementation with Rome Statute, as a tool for repression of the most serious human rights violations, represents hope of guarantee to the most intimate rights to the human family.

Magister Legum - LLM / The study objective has been to examine the progress and challenges of implementing the Rome Statute in Uganda and to what extent the substantive provisions of the Rome Statute are implemented by the International Criminal Court Act.

Magister Legum - LLM / The aim of this study is the coming into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was a thriving success for the international community insofar as that it contributed greatly to international criminal law jurisprudence. The Rome Statute establishes the International Criminal Court and confers upon the ICC jurisdiction over the international crimes namely: the crime of genocide; crimes against humanity; war crimes and the crime of aggression