The 1946 NUREMBERG TRIBUNAL established important principles of international criminal law, INCLUDING that:
AINDIVIDUALS can be held criminally responsible for crimes against international law (crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity); the defence of 'superior orders' does not absolve responsibility (though may mitigate)
Bonly States, not individuals, can be held liable for crimes against international law (cf. International Military Tribunal Charter 1945 (Nuremberg Charter); Nuremberg Principles 1950 (ILC))
Cwar crimes can only be prosecuted by the State of the perpetrator's nationality (cf. International Military Tribunal Charter 1945 (Nuremberg Charter); Nuremberg Principles 1950 (ILC))
Dinternational criminal law applies only to private individuals, not officials (cf. International Military Tribunal Charter 1945 (Nuremberg Charter); Nuremberg Principles 1950 (ILC))
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. INDIVIDUALS can be held criminally responsible for crimes against international law (crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity); the defence of 'superior orders' does not absolve responsibility (though may mitigate)
1. The Nuremberg Tribunal (1945-46) was established by the London Agreement of 8 August 1945 (UK, USA, France, USSR).
2. The Nuremberg Charter recognised three core categories of crimes: (i) CRIMES AGAINST PEACE (Article 6(a)); (ii) WAR CRIMES (6(b)); (iii) CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (6(c)).
3. The Tribunal's judgment articulated the principle that INDIVIDUALS bear criminal responsibility under international law — 'Crimes against international law are committed by men, not by abstract entities.'
4. The defence of SUPERIOR ORDERS does not absolve responsibility (Article 8 Nuremberg Charter; Rome Statute Article 33).
5. The ILC's 1950 Nuremberg Principles codified these for future application.
6. Hence option B is correct.
_Source: UN Charter 1945 / Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties 1969 / Geneva Conventions 1949 / ICJ Statute / UDHR ICCPR ICESCR — International Military Tribunal Charter 1945 (Nuremberg Charter); Nuremberg Principles 1950 (ILC)_
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