The International Criminal Court

This lesson introduces students to the International Criminal Court (ICC). It aims to deepen students' understanding of international justice and the role of the ICC in prosecuting atrocity crimes.
 
Learning Activities include:
 
1. An Interactive Presentation: The lesson begins with an interactive presentation that provides students with a basic overview the International Criminal Court. The presentation comes in two formats and teachers can pick which they prefer: Canva or Nearpod (more interactive).The presentation covers: the origins of the court, the four categories of crimes the ICC can prosecute, the court’s jurisdiction, parties to the Rome Statute, how cases can come before the ICC, the concepts of complimentarity and cooperation, criticisms of the Court and the difference between the ICC and the ICJ. It also includes two short videos and discussion questions.
 
2. Reading - Students will read an article by the Council on Foreign Relations titled "The Role of the ICC" and answer multiple-choice questions to ensure comprehension of key aspects such as the ICC's mission, establishment, jurisdiction, and criticisms.
 
3. Case Study:“ICC Charges Against Netanyahu First Time Court Has Gone After Western Leader” - Students will engage with a case study about ICC charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They will watch a segment of a Democracy Now! video, read the transcript, and answer detailed questions.Following this, students will engage with a case study about ICC charges against notable leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by watching a specified segment of a Democracy Now! video, reading the transcript, and answering detailed questions.
 
The lesson concludes with an analysis of the effectiveness of the ICC, where students explore claims and counterclaims regarding its limitations and capabilities.