The fact that international criminal tribunals have become operational has undoubtedly changed the face of the global humanitarian environment. Humanitarian organizations face a very difficult dilemma: on the one hand they cannot ignore the important role of international criminal prosecution, while on the other they are reluctant to put their operations in the field at risk by being seen to co-operate in judicial proceedings. Furthermore, a categorical refusal to co-operate could lead to their being compelled to testify.

Judge Philippe Kirsch (Canada) is president of the International Criminal Court in The Hague and is assigned to its Appeals Division. He is a member of the bar of the province of Quebec and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1988.

The mechanisms of transitional justice have gradually become a vector of globalization, seeking to stabilize, pacify and reassure entire populations. These mechanisms can play a crucial role in societies torn apart by the violence of conflict, but they must contribute effectively to the will of the local actors to take their destiny into their own hands by devising political and institutional safeguards to prevent a repeat of mass crimes.

The object of this synopsis is to study the variety of specific criminal justice systems and to sketch out the differences and similarities between existing international and internationalized criminal tribunals.

Responsibility for prosecuting the perpetrators of war crimes falls first and foremost to the states, but if they do not wish or are not in a position to do so, practice has led to the establishment of international criminal tribunals.

This article offers to explore the obligation of non-party states to co-operate under international law, the prospects of their co-operation and the legal consequences of non-co-operation.

The experiences of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda , the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the International Criminal Court, have shown that despite being the continent where most of these crimes have been committed in the past couple of decades, Africa is also a continent clearly devoted to furthering accountability for such atrocities.

This article outlines recent developments within international criminal justice institutions, with a particular focus on the limits that have been imposed on new international courts, which impact on the discretionary power of international prosecutors.

The article analyses problems with which the Republic of Croatia, as a country in transition, has to contend during war crimes proceedings.

Final Act of the Diplomatic Conference on the adoption of the Third Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem.

Biannual update on national legislation and case law, July–December 2005

Recent acquisitions of the Library & Research Service, ICRC