Abstract: This chapter discusses the legal aspects of crimes against the law of nations. The term “crimes against the law of nations” is neither frequently nor uniformly used, and most works on international law do not mention it. It originated in the criminal law of States to designate acts of individuals directed against foreign States and their representatives. However, it subsequently came to be applied to other crimes in so far as conventional or customary international law binds or entitles States to punish their authors. Crimes against the law of nations must be distinguished from international delicts and from international crimes in the sense of the draft articles on State responsibility, adopted by the International Law Commission. Both of the latter terms refer to State responsibility only. The crimes against the law of nations may be classified as the following: (1) crimes punishable under internationally prescribed municipal criminal law, (2) crimes punishable under internationally authorized municipal criminal law, and (3) crimes punishable under international law. All these crimes against the law of nations embrace acts of individuals that violate interests protected by international law.
Publication Year: 1985
Publication Date: 1985-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 2
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