International Criminal Law Outside the Courtroom: The Impact of Focusing on International Crimes for the Quality of Fact-Finding by International Commissions of Inquiry

QUALITY CONTROL IN FACT-FINDING, Morten Bergsmo ed., Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher (2013) 325-357

Grotius Centre Working Paper 2013/007-ICL.

25 Pages Posted: 24 Sep 2013 Last revised: 5 Nov 2015

See all articles by Dov Jacobs

Dov Jacobs

Leiden University - Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies; Legal Assistant at the International Criminal Court

Catherine Harwood

Leiden University

Date Written: May 20, 2013

Abstract

The renaissance of international criminal law in the 1990s not only altered the landscape of international law, but has had an impact on international fact-finding. Analysis of mandates and reports of international commissions of inquiry established by the United Nations reveals that international criminal law concepts have migrated into their investigations, findings and recommendations. This chapter tracks this migration of international criminal law from the courtroom and explores how an increased focus on international criminal law may affect the quality of the fact-finding process. A focus on international crimes has an influence on both substantive and procedural dimensions of fact-finding. Ultimately, these questions lead to an inquiry into the fundamental notion of 'quality'. An international criminal law-focus might contribute to a more rigorous fact-finding methodology, thereby increasing certainty in findings. However, when 'quality' is considered as a wider notion linked to normative and narrative agendas, an international criminal law-focus may limit the utility of fact-finding.

Keywords: Fact-finding, international commission of inquiry, international criminal law

Suggested Citation

Jacobs, Dov and Harwood, Catherine, International Criminal Law Outside the Courtroom: The Impact of Focusing on International Crimes for the Quality of Fact-Finding by International Commissions of Inquiry (May 20, 2013). QUALITY CONTROL IN FACT-FINDING, Morten Bergsmo ed., Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher (2013) 325-357, Grotius Centre Working Paper 2013/007-ICL., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2329752 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2329752

Dov Jacobs

Leiden University - Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies ( email )

Leiden University Law Faculty
P.O. Box 9520
Leiden, 2300 RA
Netherlands

Legal Assistant at the International Criminal Court ( email )

The Hague
Netherlands

Catherine Harwood (Contact Author)

Leiden University ( email )

P.O. Box 9520
Leiden
Netherlands

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