A survey of criterion of gravity threshold for prosecution of crimes in international criminal court

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Tarbiat Modares University, Faculty of Criminal Law and Criminology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD Candidate of Criminal Law and Criminology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

One of the issues that has gained a good place in considerations of the office of the prosecution and international criminal court is the gravity threshold set out in paragraph 1(d) of article 17 of statute. This concept from the time of being inserted in statute has some challenges such as lack of definition in statute, lack of criterion for satisfaction of this concept. Given to the fact that gravity threshold is one part of admissibility mechanism, these ambiguities can disturb the legitimacy and function of international criminal court as the first permanent international criminal court. Hence, the current paper aims to to clarify this significant concept. Moreover, the gravity threshold criteria and the role of this concept in situation and cases also have been analyzed. Finally, it is concluded that due to political considerations, the clarification of gravity threshold is seriously needed.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. الف) فارسی

    1. جعفری، فریدون ) 1388(، پایان‌نامۀ دکتری نقش اساسنامۀ دیوان کیفری بین‌المللی در جهانی‌سازی حقوق کیفری و چالش‌های آن، دانشگاه تهران.
    2. شبث،‌ ویلیام‌ ا.(1384)، مقدمه‌ای‌ بر دیوان‌ کیفری‌ بین‌المللی، ترجمۀ سید باقر میرعباسی‌ و حمید الهوئی‌ نظری‌، تهران، انتشارات مجد.
    3. صابر، محمود (1388)، آیین دادسی دیوان کیفری بین‌المللی، تهران، انتشارات دادگستر.
    4. 4.        کیتیچایساری، کریانگ(1387)، حقوق کیفری بین‌المللی، ترجمۀ حسین آقایی جنت مکان، تهران، انتشارات جنگل،
    5. مظاهری، امیرمسعود (89-1388)، پایان‌نامۀ دکتری اصل صلاحیت تکمیلی دیوان کیفری بین‌المللی و اعمال آن در موارد ناتوانی و عدم تمایل دولت،، دانشگاه تهران.

    ب) انگلیسی

    1. Ambos Kai, and Huber, Florian, (2011)"The Colombian Peace Process and the Principle of Complementarity of the International Criminal Court: Is there sufficient willingness and ability on the part of the Colombian authorities or should the Prosecutor open an investigation now?", pp.391-413
    2.  DeGuzman, Margaret M.,( 2012) "Choosing to prosecute: expressive selection at the international criminal court", Michigan Journal of International Law, Vol. 33, pp.265-320
    3. DeGuzman, Margaret2004,() Gravity and the Legitimacy of the International Criminal Court Margaret,pp.1400-1465
    4. DeGuzman,M Margaret,(2012) How Serious are International Crimes? The Gravity Problem in International Criminal Law,pp.18-68
    5. Egili, Patricia,( 2008) Protocol No.14 to the European convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms: Toward a more effective control mechanism?, J. OF TRANSNATIONAL LAW & POLICY ,Vol. 17-1, pp.1-34
    6. El Zeidy, Mohamed M.,( 2008) "The Gravity Threshold Under The Statute of The International Criminal Court", Criminal Law Forum,pp.35-57
    7.  Heller, Kevin Jon,( 2009) “Situational Gravity Under the Rome Statute,” in Carsten Stahn & Larissa van den Herik, Future Directions in International Criminal Justice, (TMC Asser Press), pp.227-253
    8.  Kheiltash, Golzar,( 2008) "Ocampo Turns Down Iraq Case: Implications for the U.S". availableat:https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/164/28546.html(2014/07/08)
    9.  Murphy, Ray,( 2006) "Gravity Issue And The International Criminal Court", Criminal Law Forum , pp.281-315
    10. European court of human rights, “New admissibility Criterion under Article 35 § 3 (b) of the convention. CASE-Law Principle Two years on , (2012), Research report, available at: http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Research_report_admissibility_criterion_ENG.pdf
    11.  Osiel, Mark, (2007)"How Should the ICC Office of the Prosecutor Choose its Cases? The Multiple Meanings of ‘Situational Gravity", The Hague Justice Portal, available at: http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/index.php?id=10344. 2013/09/14
    12.  Paper on some policy issues before the office of the prosecutor,( 2003) , available at: www. icc-cpi.int
    13. Pre-trial Chamber 1, "Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the case of the prosecutor versus Thomas Lubanga Dayilo", (2006) , available at: www. icc-cpi.int
    14. Rastan, Rod,( 2007) "The Power Of The Prosecutor In Initiating Investigations,(A paper prepared for the Symposium on the International Criminal Court" available at: http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/25533/1/The%20Power%20Of%20The%20Prosecutor%20In%20Initiating%20Investigations.pdf?1
    15.  SáCouto, Susana, and Cleary, Katherine A., (2008)"The Gravity Threshold of the International Criminal Court", American University Washington College of Law, pp.807-850
    16.  Schabas, William A, (2008)"Prosecutorial Discretion v. Judicial Activism at the International Criminal Court", Journal of International Criminal Justice, pp.731-761
    17.  Schabas, William A., (2008)"State Policy As An Element Of International Crimes", The Journal Of Criminal Law And Criminology, Vol. 98, No. 3, pp.953-982
    18. SUSANA SACOUTO & KATHERINE CLEARY,” The Gravity Threshold Of The International Criminal Court, War Crime Research Office, (2008) , AM. U. INT'L L. REV, pp.807-854
    19. War Crime Research Office, The Relevance Of “A Situation” To The Admissibility And Selection Of Cases Before The International Criminal Court , (2009) American University Washington College of Law, available at:  https://www.wcl.american.edu/warcrimes/icc/documents/WCRO_Report_on_Situation_October2009.pdf
    20. The Office of the Prosecutor,( 2010) "Policy Paper on Preliminary examinations", available at: www. icc-cpi.int
    21.  The Office of the Prosecutor,( 2012) "Report on Preliminary Examination Activities", November, available at: www. icc-cpi.int
    22.  The Office of the Prosecutor,( 2011) "Report on Preliminary Examination Activities", December, available at: www. icc-cpi.int
    23.  Van Schaack, Beth,( 2008/2009) "The Concept of Gravity Before International Criminal Courts, Newsletter of the International criminal",, available at: www.icc-cpi.int/library/about/newsletter/10/en_09.html ,Vol. 23, pp.807- 832.
     
Comparative Law Review
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Autumn & Winter
October 2015
Pages 627-650

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics