EPOKA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF LAW
COURSE SYLLABUS
2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE INFORMATIONCourse Title: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW |
| Code | Course Type | Regular Semester | Theory | Practice | Lab | Credits | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW 501 | B | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) | NA |
| Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: | Dr. Alba Gërdeci agerdeci@epoka.edu.al , Friday 8:30 - 10-30 hrs |
| Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: | NA |
| Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: | NA |
| Language: | English |
| Compulsory/Elective: | Compulsory |
| Study program: (the study for which this course is offered) | Integrated second cycle study program in Law |
| Classroom and Meeting Time: | Friday 13:45 hrs |
| Code of Ethics: |
Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline" |
| Attendance Requirement: | Refer to Regulation in Force |
| Course Description: | The international criminal law course aims to familiarize the students with the legal framework and institutional mechanisms available for the punishment of the perpetrators of international crimes, as well as the cooperation between states in the fight against international crimes. The course includes an analysis of substantial law on international crimes as well as procedural law for the implementation of criminal responsibility for international crimes. The international criminal law course also covers international criminal jurisprudence, the establishment, organization as well as the principles of operation and decision-making of international criminal tribunals and courts. An important emphasis is also given to mutual assistance and cooperation between states that are regulated by agreements in the area prevention and punishment of international criminal offenses. |
| Course Objectives: | This course aims to provide an accessible yet challenging explanation and appraisal of international criminal law and procedure for students. We focus on the crimes which are within the jurisdiction of international courts or tribunals – genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression – and the means of prosecuting them. We also touch on terrorist offences, torture, and transnational crimes as they relate to international criminal justice in the broader sense. This course provides an overview of principles, defences, and the aims of and alternatives to international criminal justice. We introduce international and hybrid institutions that develop and enforce international criminal law. We address the organization and conduct of the international criminal proceedings, matters relating to cooperation with courts, the system of international criminal justice, including national proceedings. International criminal law is a vast and rapidly evolving subject. This course is intended as a manageable and useful introduction to the field, and therefore does not attempt to delve into the entirety of the subject in the full detail it deserves. |
|
BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE
|
| 1 | International Criminal Law |
| 2 | National Procecution |
| 3 | International Prosecutionss |
| 4 | International crimes |
| 5 | Principles and procedures of international prosecution |
| 6 | Relationship between national and international justice system |
|
COURSE OUTLINE
|
| Week | Topics |
| 1 | Introduction and overview Ch. 1 and 2 |
| 2 | National responses Ch. 3-5 |
| 3 | International responses Ch. 6-8 (and 9) |
| 4 | Genocide Ch. 10 |
| 5 | Crimes against humanity Ch. 11 |
| 6 | War crimes Ch. 12 |
| 7 | Crimes against the peace/crime of aggression Ch. 13 |
| 8 | Modes of liability and mens rea Ch. 15 |
| 9 | Midterm |
| 10 | Defences in international criminal law Ch. 16 |
| 11 | International criminal procedures Ch. 17 and 18 |
| 12 | State cooperation and enforcement of sentences Ch. 18 and 19 |
| 13 | Immunities Ch. 20 |
| 14 | The future of international criminal law Ch. 21 |
| Prerequisite(s): | The course will be taught through a series of 13 classes with set readings for each session. Student will be expected to participate, and this will be facilitated through the assignment of readings to identified students as well as through presentations on particular topics in which students will work together in small groups to review and apply the materials. STUDENT PARTICIPATION IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COURSE |
| Textbook(s): | Cryer, R., Robinson, D., & Vasiliev, S. (2019). An Introduction to International Criminal Law and Procedure (4th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108680455 |
| Additional Literature: | Weekly on Google Classroom, ahead of each lecture |
| Laboratory Work: | N/A |
| Computer Usage: | N/A |
| Others: | No |
|
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
|
| 1 | Understand the concept of individual criminal responsibility for international crimes |
| 2 | Understand the structure and theoretical assumptions of core international crimes and critical approaches to international criminal law |
| 3 | Understand the historical development of international criminal law |
| 4 | Recognize the relationship between national and international jurisdiction for the prosecutions of international crimes |
| 5 | Comprehend the basic workings of international criminal tribunals, in particular the permanent International Criminal Court |
|
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution) |
| No | Program Competencies | Cont. |
| Integrated second cycle study program in Law Program | ||
| 1 | Fitimi dhe përdorimi i njohurive të avancuara në fushën e drejtësisë dhe jurisprudencës, mbështetur në tekstet mësimore, materialet dhe burimet e tjera shkencore. | 5 |
| 2 | Fitimi i njohurive rreth çështjeve dhe problematikave të fushës së drejtësisë, së bashku me analizën e aspekteve historike, shoqërore e politike. | 5 |
| 3 | Fitimi i njohurive rreth organizimit të shtetit. | 3 |
| 4 | Fitimi i njohurive rreth kapaciteteve të analizës lidhur me konceptet dhe ndarjet kryesore të degëve të së drejtës. | 5 |
| 5 | Përmirësimi i aftësive për të punuar së bashku me disiplinat kryesore të shkencave sociale dhe disiplinat e tjera të cilat janë të lidhura me drejtësinë. | 5 |
| 6 | Fitimi i njohurive rreth drejtësisë duke përthithur terminologjinë profesionale të fushës. | 5 |
| 7 | Përcaktimi i ngjarjeve dhe temave komplekse, nëpërmjet zhvillimit të diskutimeve dhe bërjes së sugjerimeve të reja në përputhje me hulumtimet e fushës. | 5 |
| 8 | Fitimi i aftësive në përdorimin e programeve kompjuterike dhe të teknologjisë së informacionit me qëllim arritjen e qasjes në dijen aktuale. | 5 |
| 9 | Përmirësimi i të menduarit kritik dhe aftësive në kryerjen e hulumtimit në mënyrë të pavarur. | 5 |
| 10 | Fitimi i njohurive për të folur në një gjuhë të huaj në një nivel të mjaftueshëm për të komunikuar me kolegët dhe për të kuptuar zhvillimet bashkëkohore në fushën e drejtësisë dhe të jurisprudencës. | 5 |
| 11 | Fitimi i aftësive për të respektuar vlerat shoqërore, shkencore dhe etike gjatë mbledhjes dhe interpretimit të të dhënave që kanë të bëjnë me zhvillimet shoqërore dhe atyre në drejtësi. | 5 |
| 12 | Ndërgjegjësimi në lidhje me rëndësinë e të drejtave të njeriut dhe mjedisit. | 5 |
|
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
|
| Method | Quantity | Percentage |
| Midterm Exam(s) |
1
|
30
|
| Final Exam |
1
|
40
|
| Other |
1
|
30
|
| Total Percent: | 100% |
|
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
|
| Activities | Quantity | Duration(Hours) | Total Workload(Hours) |
| Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) | 16 | 4 | 64 |
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) | 16 | 1 | 16 |
| Mid-terms | 1 | 25 | 25 |
| Assignments | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| Final examination | 1 | 25 | 25 |
| Other | 0 | ||
|
Total Work Load:
|
150 | ||
|
Total Work Load/25(h):
|
6 | ||
|
ECTS Credit of the Course:
|
6 | ||
|
CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER
|
|
The students demonstrated a great interest in the course by actively participating in the class discussions on theoretical concepts and related case law. They performed relatively well in different assessments applied during the course. The chosen textbook and materials proved very appropriate and the students went through them without any particular difficulty. |