Stríðsglæpamenn

Stríðsglæpamenn are individuals accused of committing war crimes. War crimes are serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict. These acts are considered grave offenses against humanity and are prohibited under various international treaties, including the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, as well as customary international law.

The definition of war crimes encompasses a wide range of actions. These can include intentional killing, torture, or inhuman treatment of protected persons such as civilians or prisoners of war. Other examples include extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity, compelling prisoners of war or other protected persons to serve in the forces of a hostile power, or willfully depriving a prisoner of war of the rights of a fair and regular trial. Attacks directed against civilian populations or objects, as well as attacks on protected objects such as hospitals, schools, or cultural heritage sites, can also constitute war crimes if they are carried out without military justification.

Individuals accused of being stríðsglæpamenn can be prosecuted by national courts of any state (universal jurisdiction) or by international tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) or ad hoc tribunals established for specific conflicts. The principle of individual criminal responsibility holds that commanders and civilian leaders can also be held accountable for war crimes committed by their subordinates if they knew or should have known about such crimes and failed to take necessary and reasonable measures to prevent them or punish their perpetrators. The concept aims to ensure accountability for atrocities committed during times of conflict and to deter future violations.