International crimes : an analysis of selected crimes in international law and other criminal practices

Abstract

One finds no universally accepted definition of international crimes m public international law. The notion of international crimes is, on account of both differing opinions on the question and the continuous development of international criminal law, one over which there is no consensus in public international law. It is the purpose of this thesis to provide a general outline of international crimes and their contribution to domestic national legislation, through an analysis of select crimes and practices, which may, arguably, have reached the threshold of international crimes. Furthermore I intend to define the notion of international crimes and determine which classes of crimes would fall within this category. This would be done by examining the diverse notions of international crimes held by various authors and the particular common features of those crimes which all authors term 'international crimes'.