Head of Chambers’ Staff at the International Criminal Court Volker Nerlich explains the core concepts of international criminal law, including the contextual elements that distinguish international crimes from ordinary crimes.
Drawing on his experience as a former judge at Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic, he discusses command responsibility, hybrid tribunals, complementarity, and the growing role of domestic courts in the fight against impunity. He reflects on lessons learned from hybrid justice mechanisms, the challenges of funding international criminal justice, and the reasons for cautious optimism about accountability efforts around the world.
0:16 Understanding international crimes
2:08 Understanding command responsibility and holding military and civilian leaders accountable for international crimes
4:50 The Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic as a “hybrid” court
8:52 Lessons from the hybrid justice model
10:38 Designing a hybrid tribunal
13:10 The future of international criminal justice
The interview took place on the sidelines of Wayamo training and mentoring sessions for Sudanese civil society organisations in Kampala, Uganda in March 2026.
