Course Listing

International Criminal Law
Last Updated Date:   20 June 2024


5 Units,  Semester 1

Course Description:
This course introduces students to international criminal law, broadly defined to include substantive and procedural rules applicable to core international crimes (e.g. war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity) and transnational crime (e.g. piracy, cross-border organised crime, migrant smuggling). Using case studies, we will analyse the field’s historical origins, evolution, and present-day implementation. Among others, we will study post-WWII tribunals, the ad hoc international tribunals of Yugoslavia and Rwanda, hybrid tribunals, and the International Criminal Court. We will also study the laws, practices, and agencies established by the international community to deal with cross-border crimes like piracy, organised crime, and migrant smuggling.

This course features substantial group work and collaborative activities. No active use of laptops is permitted in class. There are no prerequisites to this course, but students will find it helpful to have taken or be taking public international law. Student familiarity with basic criminal law concepts will be assumed. I expect students to come to class having done their assigned readings and having developed their own thoughts on the topic. Active class participation is expected throughout the course.

At the end of the course students should:
1. Be familiar with the legal frameworks, rules, and case law applicable to core international crimes and transnational crimes.
2. Understand the history, politics, and ideas underlying the substantive and procedural rules applicable to core international crimes and transnational crimes.
3. Be aware of the political, social, and economic factors shaping decisions about international criminal law.
4. Understand how international criminal law interacts with other fields of international law and how it relates to broader questions of global justice, cross-border security, and international community.

Course Convenor: A/P Cheah Wui Ling

Co-teacher(s): Nil

Course Codes: LL4073V / LL5073V / LL6073V / LLJ5073V

Contact Hours: 3-hrs continuous weekly seminar

Workload: 3 hours

Mode of Assessment: Continual Course Assessment - 30% & Final Exam - 70%

Preclusions: NA

Prerequisites: NUS Compulsory Core Law Curriculum or equivalent.

Examination Date: Monday, 2 December 2024 (AM)

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