SHEDDING LIGHT ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW

The article sheds the light on International Criminal Law (ICL), one of the modern branches of Public International Law that defines international crimes and establishes the legal framework for prosecuting individuals responsible for the commission of these crimes, through substantive and procedural rules. It traces the historical evolution of the law, from traditional crimes like piracy and war crimes to the contemporary inclusion of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. Furthermore, it traces the evolution of enforcement mechanisms from the exclusive jurisdiction of national courts to ad hoc international tribunals and then to the International Criminal Court which operates on the principle of complementarity, intervening only when national jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to act. The article highlights the principle of individual criminal responsibility, which holds individuals, including heads of state and public officials, accountable for violations of International Humanitarian Law. The article concludes that International Criminal Law remains a developing field requiring further research to address modern transformations in wars and armed conflicts and the impact of technological advancements on international crimes.