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Unit of study_
LAWS6219: International Criminal Law
2026 unit information
International criminal law concerns the prosecution of individuals, mostly military and political leaders, for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression. After being first enforced in the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals after World War II, international criminal law has experienced a resurgence in the past twenty-five years. Today, trials under international criminal law are underway at the International Criminal Court, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the mechanism that is finishing cases that began in the international criminal tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. This unit provides a foundational knowledge of the principles of international criminal law, with reference to both historic and ongoing trials. Students will consider the roles of investigators, prosecutors, victims, lawyers, defence, judges, and States in international criminal justice, and will consider controversies and challenges facing international criminal courts and tribunals today. The elements of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, modes of liability and defences will be covered, with case studies on sexual violence crimes and the use of child soldiers. The unit also considers the interaction between the International Criminal Court, national governments, and the United Nations Security Council. Refer to Sydney Law School timetable - https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Law School
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Law |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Analyse and apply the rules, principles and institutional frameworks of international criminal law to historical and contemporary prosecutions involving genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression.
- LO2. Apply relevant legal research methodologies to the critically analysis of primary sources to identify, interpret and evaluate key principles, findings and arguments in international criminal law.
- LO3. Communicate accurate, logically structured and persuasive analyses of complex international criminal law issues to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- LO4. Formulate reasoned legal advice on complex problems in international criminal law by identifying material facts and issues, applying relevant rules and tests, and justifying legally supported conclusions.
- LO5. Critically evaluate the effectiveness, legitimacy and limitations of international criminal law institutions, doctrines and practices and construct reasoned arguments for reform.
Unit availability
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| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2026
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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