CRIME OF AGGRESSION: AN ANALYSIS OF ELEMENTS OF CRIME AND OBSTACLES TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IN THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
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Abstract
This documentary research was to examine revolution of the crime of aggression under international criminal law, to analyze the elements of crime of aggression and obstacles to criminal prosecution in ICC (International Criminal Court) and to critically study guidelines for solving the problems of criminal prosecution in the ICC. The study’s findings are shown as follows:
1) Elements of the crime of aggression in article 8bis of the Rome statute have shown specific characters different from elements of other serious international crimes that are under the ICC’s jurisdiction, both material elements (actus reus) and mental elements (mens rea).
2) The crime of aggression is the most serious form of the use of force in international relations constituting a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations. However, only 49 states (from overall 125 state parties) have accepted the ICC’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression resulting in several obstacles to criminal prosecution for the crime of aggression in the ICC significantly.
3) Solving the problems of the criminal prosecution for the crime of aggression in the ICC more effectively, international communities can take action in many ways, such as accepting the crime of aggression as a universal crime, domesticating the crime of aggression and co-operating fully in the matter of serious international crimes.
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