Sõjakuritegude

Sõjakuriteod is the Estonian term for war crimes. War crimes are grave breaches of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, and in certain circumstances, in non-international armed conflicts. These acts violate established international humanitarian law, which aims to protect individuals who are not participating or no longer participating in hostilities.

The definition of war crimes is primarily established by international treaties such as the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, as well as customary international law. These laws prohibit acts like willful killing, torture, or inhuman treatment of prisoners of war or civilians, taking hostages, deliberately targeting civilians or civilian objects, and extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity.

Individuals, whether soldiers or civilians, can be held accountable for committing war crimes. International tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court, and national courts can prosecute individuals for these offenses. The concept of command responsibility also holds superiors accountable for crimes committed by their subordinates if they knew or should have known about the crimes and failed to prevent or punish them.

The prosecution of war crimes is crucial for ensuring accountability, deterring future atrocities, and upholding the rule of law in times of conflict. Estonia, as a signatory to various international humanitarian law treaties, is committed to preventing and prosecuting war crimes.