International Criminal Law Enforcement

Abstract

This chapter advocates in the strongest terms the establishment of a mechanism for the enforcement of international criminal law. As alluded to in the previous chapter, the United Nations’ role in this transition towards a postmodern era should be one of addressing underlying causes of conflict. However, this transitional period has produced some of the most appalling crimes against humanity, as demonstrated in Cambodia and El Salvador among other places. Something must be done to combat these most heinous of crimes. The following analysis examines briefly a number of systemic changes and the challenge of dealing with international criminal activity in the cases of Cambodia and El Salvador. It then offers, in light of the establishment of an International Criminal Court (ICC), a number of suggestions for shoring up the international community’s ability to enforce international criminal law.