Nuremberg Principles

The Nuremberg Principles is General Assembly Resolution 177 passed by the United Nations on November 21, 1947.

Written originally as so:

177 (II). Formulation of the principles recognized in the Charter of the Nürnberg Tribunal and in the judgment of the Tribunal.

The General Assembly decides to entrust the formulation of the principles of international law recognized in the charter of the Nürnberg Tribunal and in the judgment of the Tribunal to the International Law Commission, the members of which will, in accordance with resolution 174 (II), be elected at the next session of the General Assembly, and direct the Commission to:

(a) Formulate the principles of international law recognized in the Charter of the Nürnberg Tribunal and in the judgment of the Tribunal and,

(b) Prepare a draft code of offences against the peace and security of mankind, indicating clearly the place to be accorded to the principles meantioned in sub-paragraph (a) above.

The International Law Commission Codified the Principles listed below and they were adopted on July 19, 1950.

The "Nuremberg Principles" are:
a) Crimes against peace b) War crimes c) Crimes against humanity
 * 1) Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefor and liable to punishment.
 * 2) The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.
 * 3) The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible Government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.
 * 4) The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.
 * 5) Any person charged with a crime under international law has the right to a fair trial on the facts and law.
 * 6) The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:
 * 1) Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle 6 is a crime under international law.

Source: http://www.nurembergfilm.org/trial_nuremberg_principles.shtml

Written by: Elizabeth Dimmerman 1-1-18

Contact: Edimmerman@gmail.com