The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid World

Abstract The crime against humanity of apartheid has been widely neglected: jurisprudence is non-existent and the academic discourse modest. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first international criminal tribunal to include the crime against humanity of apartheid in its statute, notwiths...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Carola Lingaas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Scandinavian University Press 2015-01-01
Series:Oslo Law Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.idunn.no/oslo_law_review/2015/02/the_crime_against_humanity_of_apartheid_in_a_post-apartheid
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849323209978019840
author Carola Lingaas
author_facet Carola Lingaas
author_sort Carola Lingaas
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The crime against humanity of apartheid has been widely neglected: jurisprudence is non-existent and the academic discourse modest. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first international criminal tribunal to include the crime against humanity of apartheid in its statute, notwithstanding the controversy of this crime. According to critics the crime is a South African phenomenon that has not reached the status of customary law. The provision on apartheid in the Rome Statute of the ICC builds on the Apartheid Convention, which is highly contentious and not signed by any Western state. All the more, it is surprising that apartheid was included in the Statute. Despite the fact that the crime of apartheid has never been prosecuted, this article argues that its inclusion into the Rome Statute raises some unique and interesting questions. It shows the international community’s belief in the deterrent effect of this crime, as well as its continued importance. This article will scrutinise the elements of the crime and reveal definitional challenges. It will, in particular, discuss potential contemporary situations of apartheid. The ICC Prosecutor will have to release apartheid from its historical connection in order to bring to justice perpetrators of systematic racial oppression.
format Article
id doaj-art-fd331ff735964be9a4faf077c69016de
institution Kabale University
issn 2387-3299
language English
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Scandinavian University Press
record_format Article
series Oslo Law Review
spelling doaj-art-fd331ff735964be9a4faf077c69016de2025-08-20T03:49:07ZengScandinavian University PressOslo Law Review2387-32992015-01-0128611510.5617/oslaw256618948693The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid WorldCarola LingaasAbstract The crime against humanity of apartheid has been widely neglected: jurisprudence is non-existent and the academic discourse modest. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first international criminal tribunal to include the crime against humanity of apartheid in its statute, notwithstanding the controversy of this crime. According to critics the crime is a South African phenomenon that has not reached the status of customary law. The provision on apartheid in the Rome Statute of the ICC builds on the Apartheid Convention, which is highly contentious and not signed by any Western state. All the more, it is surprising that apartheid was included in the Statute. Despite the fact that the crime of apartheid has never been prosecuted, this article argues that its inclusion into the Rome Statute raises some unique and interesting questions. It shows the international community’s belief in the deterrent effect of this crime, as well as its continued importance. This article will scrutinise the elements of the crime and reveal definitional challenges. It will, in particular, discuss potential contemporary situations of apartheid. The ICC Prosecutor will have to release apartheid from its historical connection in order to bring to justice perpetrators of systematic racial oppression.https://www.idunn.no/oslo_law_review/2015/02/the_crime_against_humanity_of_apartheid_in_a_post-apartheidapartheidcrime against humanityRome StatuteApartheid ConventionNorth KoreaPalestine
spellingShingle Carola Lingaas
The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid World
Oslo Law Review
apartheid
crime against humanity
Rome Statute
Apartheid Convention
North Korea
Palestine
title The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid World
title_full The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid World
title_fullStr The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid World
title_full_unstemmed The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid World
title_short The Crime against Humanity of Apartheid in a Post-Apartheid World
title_sort crime against humanity of apartheid in a post apartheid world
topic apartheid
crime against humanity
Rome Statute
Apartheid Convention
North Korea
Palestine
url https://www.idunn.no/oslo_law_review/2015/02/the_crime_against_humanity_of_apartheid_in_a_post-apartheid
work_keys_str_mv AT carolalingaas thecrimeagainsthumanityofapartheidinapostapartheidworld
AT carolalingaas crimeagainsthumanityofapartheidinapostapartheidworld