international crime
international crime. Int’l law. A grave breach of international law, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, made punishable offenses by treaties and applicable rules of customary international law. • An international crime occurs when three conditions are satisfied: (1) the criminal norm must derive either from a treaty concluded under international law or from customary international law, and must have direct binding force on individuals without intermediate provisions of municipal law, (2) the provision must be made for the prosecution of acts penalized by international law in accordance with the principle of universal jurisdiction, so that the international character of the crime might show in the mode of prosecution itself (e.g., before the International Criminal Court), and (3) a treaty establishing liability for the act must bind the great majority of countries. — Also termed international offense. [Cases: International Law 1–2. C.J.S. International Law §§ 2–5.]
