On March 17, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin after an incident involving an American drone in international waters.
Lord, we will see what a war crime is and what happens when a war crime is committed.
What is a war crime?
War crimes are committed when combatants violate the laws of war defined by international treaties or customary law.
War crimes include the killing of civilians, the killing of prisoners of war, torture, hostage-taking, genocide and ethnic cleansing.
They are often acts of unjustifiable violence or atrocities and violate the rules of military conflict.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates violations of the Rome Statute and brings to justice those accused of the crimes most serious to the international community.
What types of war crimes are there?
War crimes are defined by the Geneva Conventions, the precedents of the Nuremberg Tribunal, the laws and customs of war, and the provisions of the Hague International War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY).
The Geneva Conventions legally established the list of war crimes in 1949 and determined which states could exercise universal jurisdiction.
War crimes reflect the criminal liability that may be assigned to acts committed through conflict.
They can be classified into three categories. Traditional war crimes, crimes against peace, crimes against humanity.
Although genocide is often not officially recognized as a fourth category, it falls within the range of acts considered war crimes.
These are the grave violations of war determined by the Geneva Convention, the best known of the war crimes conventions.
- deliberate murder
- Torture or inhumane treatment, including biological experimentation.
- Acts that intentionally inflict great pain on the body or health, or inflict serious injury
- Large-scale destruction and occupation of property unjustified by military necessity and carried out illegally and unjustly.
- Forcing prisoners of war or other protected persons to serve in the armed forces of a hostile country.
- Deliberately depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person the right to a fair and regular trial.
- unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement;
- take hostage
There are also the Hague Convention and the Geneva Protocol, which specialize in conventional weapons and biological and chemical weapons.
When were war crimes committed?
Throughout history there are countless examples of people accused and proven of having committed war crimes.
Almost every major military conflict has resulted in allegations and proven cases of war crimes.
World War I was the first international conflict to face war crimes accusations after the Code.
Examples of alleged war crimes include:
Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic – 1999
The International War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia has indicted Milosevic for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.
He was the first sitting head of state to be indicted for war crimes, but died in custody before he could be tried.
Former Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi – 2011
Gaddafi has been accused of crimes against humanity after ordering the killing of civilians and protesters during the Libyan civil war.
He died before he could stand trial.
Vladimir Putin – 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of attacking Ukrainians with cluster bombs. vacuum bomb.
These weapons have been condemned by various international bodies, including the Geneva Conventions.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, said, “The devastation Russia is about to inflict on Ukraine is great.”
A prosecutor at the International Criminal Court said he had “reasonable grounds” to believe that the crime had taken place in Ukraine.
What is the International Criminal Court?
The International Criminal Court is located in The Hague, Netherlands.
It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute people for many serious crimes.
There are four crimes the courts cover. These are: Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of aggression.
It started operation in July 2002 after the implementation of the Treaty of Rome.
