The Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials in Shaping Modern International Criminal Law

In the aftermath of World War II, the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials did not only seek justice for crimes against humanity but laid the foundation for the modern international legal landscape. These crucial events marked the first instances, in this case, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japanese officials, were held accountable for heinous crimes against humanity and war crimes. Without the unprecedented examples established during these trials, the framework for modern international criminal law would not have been possible. Although we have made substantial progress since the trials, some matters must be addressed regarding the effectiveness of courts such as the ICJ and the ICC today.