An examination of the rationale for the law against international crimes

Over time, there has been an increased surge in the rate of International Crimes across the globe. These crimes which are perpetrated by men and not abstract entities have pervaded the International Community and have led to the flagrant disregard and violation of the rights of individuals; heinous International Crimes like genocide have led to the death of multitudes. It is in this regard, that this study adopts a doctrinal method of study in embarking on a detailed examination of the rationale cum reason behind the laws prohibiting international crimes have been established. The data obtained through the doctrinal method from secondary sources were analysed through descriptive and analytical methods. The study therefore found that there exists the context of a widespread systematic attack against the group to which the person belongs hence an International Crime. In this regard, in the absence of a systematic body of rules and laws criminalizing these sardonic acts, the International Community will be plagued further by these happenings and the various human rights violations and killings will persist. Hence, the rationale for the law against international crime. It was therefore concluded and recommended that crimes against humanity ought to have a collective dimension with regard to those who are victims of these crimes and those who are the perpetrators of the same. In this regard, the international community, and with the profound obligations on States, need to criminalize certain offences to, inter alia unify the framework of States’ criminal law to the maximum extent possible.