International Criminal Law

The commission of war crimes by States in armed conflicts has become a distressingly common occurrence, resulting in devastating consequences for and profoundly affecting global conscience. In response, international jurists have sought to develop practical and appropriate solutions to minimize the occurrence of such crimes during armed conflicts. Consequently, they have succeeded in devising specialized documents which form the current international system for addressing war crimes. Recruiting a descriptive-analytical method and using library sources, this research aims to investigate the primary causes hindering the efficacy of the current system in holding perpetrators accountable. The study, also explores key international documents related to this subject matter. Findings indicate that challenges such as inadequate implementation mechanisms in these documents, the prioritization of international relations over international law by governments, the absence of participation from major military powers, and the limited use of political tools by others States against the offending States are crucial reasons behind the weakness of the current international system in addressing war crimes.

The ever-evolving landscape of International Criminal Law (ICL), as a field that connects different branches and levels of law, requires meticulous deliberation. Establishing international justice is a crucial step in ensuring that all perpetrators are held accountable. The International Criminal Court (ICC/the Court) has issued two arrest warrants against the President and Commissioner for Children’s Rights of the Russian Federation, on March 17, 2023, for their involvement in forced population transfer which is an international crime under the Rome Statute. This research article seeks to explore the Ukraine situation from the perspective of ICL and examine the arrest warrants issued by the ICC against Russian authorities. Additionally, it briefly addresses the Ukraine’s lawfare against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). While the issuance of the arrest warrants is in itself a positive step toward the fortification of international criminal justice, the implementation of these warrants specifically regarding the President of the Russian Federation seems to be very problematic. Nevertheless, in spite of the challenges faced by the ICC in this situation, issuance of the arrest warrants reveals a significant reality: international criminal justice does not exempt even the president of a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Furthermore, the legal actions taken by Ukraine against Russia at both the ICJ and ECtHR are legally positive steps towards halting aggression and restoring international peace and security through international law. However, these actions face challenges such as time constraints and compliance.