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.

Diplomatic immunity is one of the oldest elements of foreign relations, dating back as far as Ancient Greece and Rome. Today, it is a principle that has been codified into the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations regulating past customs and practices. Consuls and international organizations, although their privileges and immunities are similar to diplomatic personnel, do differ and are regulated by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the United Nations International Immunities respectively. These Conventions have been influenced by past practices and by three theories during different era’s namely exterritoriality, personal representation and functional necessity. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations further provides certain immunities and privileges to different levels of diplomatic officials, their staff and families. Privileges and immunities will be considered under various main categories, namely the diplomatic mission, the diplomatic official, diplomatic staff, and families. Each category receives privileges and immunities, for example immunities enjoyed by the diplomatic mission include mission correspondence and bags. Diplomatic officials enjoy personal inviolability, immunity from jurisdiction and inviolability of diplomats’ residences and property. The staff and families of diplomatic officials too enjoy privileges and immunities. The problem of so many people receiving privileges and immunities is that there is a high likelihood of abuse. Abuses that arise are various crimes committed by diplomats, their staff and families. They are immune from local punishment and appear to be above the local law. Although the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides remedies against diplomats, staff and families who abuse their position, it gives the impression that it is not enough. Various Acts in the United Kingdom, United States and the Republic of South Africa will be analysed in order to ascertain what governments have done to try and curb diplomatic abuses. Each will be considered and found that although they have restricted immunity from previous practices it still places the diplomats’ needs above its own citizens. Thus several suggestions have been put forward and argued whether they are successful in restricting immunity comprehensively. Such suggestions are amending the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; using the functional necessity theory to further limit immunity; forming bilateral treaties between States as a possible means to restrict or limit; and lastly establishing a Permanent International Diplomatic Criminal Court. The key question to be answered is whether diplomatic immunity is needed for the efficient functioning of foreign relations between States.

Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The object of the thesis is to examine the content and status of the double criminality principle in international extradition law. The double criminality principle says a fugitive c annat be extradited unless the conduct for which his extradition is sought is criminal in both the requesting state and the requested state. This thesis is based on a study of sources of international law and domestic law and ideas presented in legal literature. The double criminality principle has developed over several centuries and it has been embraced by most states in one form or the other. The principle serves several purposes, of which the most dominant is the notion of state sovereignty. States apply the double criminality principle differently due to its multiple rationale. Legal literature has distinguished two main methods of interpretation, called interpretation in abstracto and in concreto. Whereas the in abstracto method focuses on the theoretical punishability of the conduct, the in concreto method attaches importance to all factual, personal and legal aspects. There are also ways of interpretation that are a combination of these two methods. Most states can be classified into one of the two main groups of interpretation, but in general most states have adopted a specific method of interpretation that is unique to each particular state. There is thus no uniform method of interpretation in international extradition law. This thesis attempts to determine whether the double criminality principle has become a rule of customary international law. Though most instruments on international or domestic extradition law include the double criminality principle, the strong disagreement among legal scholars as to the legal status of the principle leads to the conclusion that the double criminality principle is not a rule of international law today. This thesis contains an examination of whether the principle of double criminality can be classified as an international human rights norm. Though the principle of double criminality has striking similarities with human rights as it partly aims at protecting individuals facing extradition, there are also a number of aspects that distinguish the principle from traditional human rights. This is partly attributable to the fact that international extradition law is not the arena where general international human rights have developed. It is therefore concluded that the double criminality principle does not form part of international human rights law. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oogmerk van hierdie tesis is om die inhoud en status van die beginsel van dubbelkriminaliteit in internasionale uitleweringsreg te ondersoek. Hierdie beginsel behels dat die handeling ten opsigte waarvan die uitlewering versoek is, misdade in beide die staat wat uitlewering versoek as die staat waarvan uitlewering versoek word, is. Die metode wat hierdie tesis onderlê is 'n literatuurstudie van bronne in die internasionale en nasionale reg. Die dubbelkriminaliteitsbeginsel het oor etlike eeue ontwikkel. Dit word gevind in die meeste regstelsels. Die beginsel dien verskeie oogmerke, waarvan staatsoewereiniteit sekerlik die belangrikste is. State pas die beginselop verskillende maniere toe weens die verskeie bestaansredes vir die beginsel. Regsliteratuur tref 'n onderskeid tussen twee belangrike metodes van interpretasie, naamlik die in abstracto en in concreto benaderings. Terwyl die in abstracto metode op die teoretiese strafbaarheid van die handeling fokus, plaas die in concreto benadering klem op die feitelike, persoonlike en konkrete regsaspekte. Daar is kombinasies van hierdie metodes. Meeste state kan geklassifiseer word volgens die twee benaderings, maar tog pas state hierdie benaderings by hul besondere behoeftes aan. Daar is dus geen uniforme metode van interpretasie in internasionale uitleweringsreg nie. Hierdie tesis poog om te bepaal of die dubbelkriminaliteitsbeginsel 'n reël van gemeenregtelike internasionale reg geword het. Alhoewel meeste wetgewing op die terrein van internasionale en nasionale uitleweringsreg die beginsel van dubbelkriminalitiet insluit, is daar sterk meningsverskilonder regsgeleerdes tov die status van die beinsel. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die beginsel nie 'n algemene reël van die internasionale reg is nie. Ten slotte word daar gekyk of die dubbelkriminaliteitsbeginsel as 'n beginsel van internasionale menseregte geklassifiseer kan word. Alhoewel die beginsel ooreemste met menseregtenorme toon - veral die beskerming van die individu in uitleweringsaangeleenthede - is daar 'n aantal aspekte wat d it van menseregte 0 nderskei. I nternasionale uitleweringsreg en internasionale menseregte deel nie dieselfde ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis nie. Die gevolgtrekking is dus dat die dubbelkriminaliteitsbeginsel nie deel vorm van internasionale menseregte nie.

Magister Legum - LLM

The purpose of the thesis is to analyze the importance of sharing information when dealing with activities related to international terrorism in Latin America, especially in the aftermath of the terrorist events against the United States on September 11, 2001. The importance of information on international terrorism is critical in the war against terrorism, particularly in the region due to the potential for those activities associated with the already existent organized crime. The importance of information includes organizations. Therefore, the proposed organizational process makes it possible to facilitate the sharing of information considering the complexity involved. At the same time, the necessity of information about the threat of terrorism can be demonstrated through the use of game theory. This model can drive the states to use all means necessary to obtain relevant information. The requirement for information sharing must be solved based on the relevance of the threats and the need for increased security for the states in the region.

Em conformidade com o direito internacional penal e o direito internacional dos direitos humanos, a presente dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo verificar se o exercício da competência repressiva universal pelos tribunais nacionais constitui um mecanismo da justiça internacional penal capaz de auxiliar na promoção e na proteção dos direitos humanos. Para responder a esta indagação, três fontes do direito internacional foram analisadas neste estudo: a doutrina, a jurisprudência e a prática dos Estados. Neste sentido, além da exposição teórica, procedeu-se à análise dos principais casos em que o instituto foi aplicado e à pesquisa da legislação de alguns países sobre o tema. Este estudo verificou como a competência repressiva universal está inserida no momento de transição do direito internacional penal desencadeado pela crescente afirmação dos direitos humanos. / According to international criminal law and to international human rights law, this thesis aims to verify if the exercise of universal jurisdiction by national courts represents a mechanism of the international criminal justice able to promote and to strengthen human rights. In order to answer this question, three sources of international law were investigated: the teachings of publicists, judicial decisions and the internal law of some countries. This study assumed there is a transition going on in international law caused by the advances of human rights and analyzed how universal jurisdiction relates to it.

Em conformidade com o direito internacional penal e o direito internacional dos direitos humanos, a presente dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo verificar se o exercício da competência repressiva universal pelos tribunais nacionais constitui um mecanismo da justiça internacional penal capaz de auxiliar na promoção e na proteção dos direitos humanos. Para responder a esta indagação, três fontes do direito internacional foram analisadas neste estudo: a doutrina, a jurisprudência e a prática dos Estados. Neste sentido, além da exposição teórica, procedeu-se à análise dos principais casos em que o instituto foi aplicado e à pesquisa da legislação de alguns países sobre o tema. Este estudo verificou como a competência repressiva universal está inserida no momento de transição do direito internacional penal desencadeado pela crescente afirmação dos direitos humanos. / According to international criminal law and to international human rights law, this thesis aims to verify if the exercise of universal jurisdiction by national courts represents a mechanism of the international criminal justice able to promote and to strengthen human rights. In order to answer this question, three sources of international law were investigated: the teachings of publicists, judicial decisions and the internal law of some countries. This study assumed there is a transition going on in international law caused by the advances of human rights and analyzed how universal jurisdiction relates to it.

Alguns casos de extradição julgados pelo STF possuem especial relevância por apreciarem a ocorrência dos crimes internacionais. Assim, o estudo dessas decisões mostra-se importante para que se possa averiguar o efetivo exercício do direito internacional penal, que regula o tratamento especial dado a estes crimes. A presente Tese tem por objetivo averiguar a incidência das normas de direito internacional penal nos julgamentos do STF de pedidos de extradição. Apresenta-se, ainda, o impacto que o entendimento firmado nesses casos tem surtido no julgamento de outras ações, inclusive por outras esferas do Poder Judiciário brasileiro. Também é possível realizar um comparativo com o quanto decidido no julgamento da ADPF nº 153, em que se reafirmou a validade da lei de anistia brasileira, que, por sua vez, extinguiu a punibilidade dos crimes internacionais cometidos durante o Regime Militar no Brasil. Por fim, a partir desses estudos, enfatiza-se a necessidades de dar efetiva aplicação ao direito internacional penal nos julgamentos realizados no âmbito do STF. / Some extradition cases trialed at Brazil Supreme Court of Justice show special relevance because they deal with international crimes. Therefore, the study of these judicial decisions is important so that it can be possible to verify the effectiveness of International Criminal Law, which regulates the special treatment given to those crimes. The present Thesis aims to examine the incidence of the rules and principles of international criminal law by Brazilian Supreme Court at extradition trials. It also presents the impacts of the understanding exposed in those trials on other cases and actions, subjected to other organs of Brazils Judiciary system. It is either possible to create a comparative between the jurisprudence of extradition cases and what has been decided at the ADPF nº 153, reaffirming Brazilian amnesty law, which has granted amnesty to international crimes committed during Brazils military regime. Finally, trough these reviews, it emphasizes the need to give real enforcement to international criminal law when Brazils Supreme Court analyzes extradition requests.

Complementarity, the organizing principle of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is a largely untested concept in terms of its ability to instigate State compliance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The ICC made its debut at a time when States were routinely accused of non-compliance with international law, particularly international criminal law. Due to perennial concerns over the protection of State sovereignty, an ingenious system of allocation of competencies between States and the ICC was evolved. This is embodied by the principle of complementarity. At the heart of complementarity is an arrangement by which States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC are regarded as the prime fora for the prosecution of crimes of grave concern to the international community. In the event of inaction, however, the ICC is mandated to wrest specific cases from the jurisdiction of national courts and try them. In effect, a carrot-and-stick mechanism has been built into the Rome Statute to induce States to comply with the Statute. This thesis examines the principle of complementarity from a theoretical perspective, bearing in mind contemporary international law structures and institutions. A better understanding of the theoretical assumptions of complementarity, it is suggested, will foster a more effective application of the tenets of the Rome Statute within the municipal system. The thesis argues that complementarity is a catalyst for implementation of the Rome Statute only to the extent to which it alters or re-defines well established and encumbering procedures and norms within the municipal system. In this regard, although South Africa’s status of constitutional democracy may be reason to expect that the obligations imposed by the Rome Statute will be observed, that very fact may increase the inclination to preserve the “baseline of conduct” rather than be swayed by the Rome Statute. An illustrative excursion into South African rules and norms is undertaken, after which the argument is advanced that not much change has been effected to the South African legal landscape through implementation of the Rome Statute. The sole exception to this is the issue of prosecutorial discretion. On this, the South African legislature has uniquely crafted a mechanism for ensuring accountability, presumably with a view to ensuring that South Africa is always able to prosecute the crimes concerned. However, the thesis cautions against complacency, arguing that the tension between national law and international obligations may yet play itself out, owing to insufficient attention to the role of national courts in giving effect to the Rome Statute. The act of implementation may be a response to stimuli such as the perceived need to avoid civil liability for international crimes, or the general inertia of implementing human rights instruments. Therefore, the carrot-and-stick mechanism may be lacking in the compulsive qualities it is presumed to have. Through an exploratory survey of South African law, the thesis illustrates that prosecutorial accountability is the major factor in determining whether a State has fully complied with is obligations under the Rome Statute. However, it also points out that the way courts of law apply the new norms in municipal systems in the future will be crucial.