Overview
- The 1945 Nuremberg Trials introduced crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression, and the principle of individual criminal responsibility.
- The main Nuremberg case began on November 20, 1945 with 24 defendants and concluded with 12 death sentences, 7 prison terms, and 3 acquittals, with 11 executions carried out on October 16, 1946.
- Genocide was not charged at Nuremberg, a gap later addressed by Rafael Lemkin’s concept and the 1948 Genocide Convention.
- Today the ICJ is hearing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel and has ordered provisional measures requiring Israel’s leadership to avoid acts of genocide.
- The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin (2023) and Benjamin Netanyahu (2024) under the Rome Statute, highlighting active prosecution efforts that depend on state cooperation and have seen limited enforcement.