Sõjaroimad

Sõjaroimad refer to acts committed during armed conflict that violate the laws and customs of war. These violations are internationally recognized and are subject to prosecution under international law. The Statute of the International Criminal Court defines several categories of war crimes, including grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, and certain violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflict not of an international character.

Examples of war crimes include wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement of a civilian, taking of hostages, and intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population or individual civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities. Other acts include intentionally directing attacks against buildings, materials, medical units and transport, and personnel using the distinctive emblem of the red cross or red crescent.

The prosecution of war crimes can occur in international tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court, or within national courts under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Establishing war crimes typically requires proving that a prohibited act was committed and that it occurred in the context of an armed conflict. The intent of the perpetrator is also a crucial element in many war crime prosecutions. The aim of prosecuting war crimes is to hold individuals accountable for egregious violations of humanitarian law and to deter future atrocities.