EPQ Padlet by Selena Baroud

Initial idea.

selenabaroud7 — 2025-05-13 15:36:55 UTC

The initial idea that I want my EPQ to explore centers around international criminal law in the Middle East, the growth of ICL in the aftermath of WWII (the Nuremberg trials) into the ICC and its application on a middle eastern country (TBD) probably Palestine.

"From Nuremberg to The Hague: The Evolution of International Criminal Law and Its Application to the Middle East"

some resources

selenabaroud7 — 2025-05-13 15:37:04 UTC

The Nuremberg Trials Archive
→ Harvard Law Library Nuremberg Trials Project
→ UN resources on the International Military Tribunal
Rome Statute of the ICC (1998)
→ Found on the ICC official website
International Criminal Court Case Files
→ ICC “Situation in Palestine” page
→ Other situations: Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, etc.
UN Reports and Resolutions
→ UN Human Rights Council reports
→ Resolutions on international law and Palestine
Key journals:
- Journal of International Criminal Justice
- European Journal of International Law
- International Review of the Red Cross
- Middle East Journal
Recommended Books:
- "International Criminal Law" by Antonio Cassese
- "Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine" by Noura Erakat
- "The Nuremberg Trials: The Nazis and Their Crimes Against Humanity" by Paul Roland (for accessible Nuremberg background)

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
→ Reports on war crimes in Palestine, Syria, Iraq
International Commission of Jurists, Al-Haq, BADIL
→ Focused on Palestinian rights and international law
Chatham House and International Crisis Group
→ Legal/political analysis of ICL in conflict zones

What I want to be careful not to do

selenabaroud7 — 2025-05-13 15:39:42 UTC

not get too political - if an opinion is stated on unfair or biased treatment by The Hague it should be rooted in legal principles.
keep it short on the history part
avoid biased sources as best I can - including Palestine in my EPQ would mean very biased sources from either side of the conflict as it is a sensitive subject.
avoid emotional language
Remaining objective on a topic I feel strongly about
→ Solution: Rely on academic and legal sources from diverse perspectives and maintain a neutral, analytical tone

Problems that might arise

selenabaroud7 — 2025-05-13 15:50:01 UTC

might be too big of a topic to completely discuss
legal terminology would have to be learnt
a way of processing all the knowledge and fact-checking sources needs to be developed.

Objectives:

selenabaroud7 — 2025-05-13 15:51:08 UTC

To trace the legal and institutional evolution of ICC from 1945 to the present
To analyse the legal principles established at Nuremberg and how they influenced later international tribunals
To assess the ICC’s role and challenges in prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity in the middle east
To examine the specific case of Palestine and explore whether the ICC and other mechanisms have served justice effectively
To consider political limitations and structural inequalities that may undermine the enforcement of international criminal law

I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how international criminal law functions, where it succeeds or fails, and what this means for justice in conflict zones like Palestine. I also aim to evaluate whether the principles established in Nuremberg still hold meaning today or whether they have been compromised by power politics.

Rationale:

selenabaroud7 — 2025-05-13 15:58:45 UTC

As a Palestinian everyday growing up I was witnessing and processing the laws of the legal system, daily I would see army control on my neighborhoods or checkpoints to travel between towns and while adults sat and discussed the ongoing politics I was there listening. From my childhood I have had a hugely unique perspective on the legal system as my fascination with law wasn't just an interest but a necessity, to be aware of my complex position in the geopolitical climate, to become acquainted with the law system and procedures just understand my existence from the controlled axis within the west bank’s borders and the lack of a justice system, to the confusion within international law while traveling having to discover which nations or international bodies recognized me. The gap between legal ideals and political realities is especially visible in the Middle East when you view it first hand thus, driving me to outline such a big part of my existence in a formal matter like this one.

Research

selenabaroud7 — 2025-08-10 09:43:42 UTC

To begin my research I will focus on two streams:

A- General international criminal law history.

B-Middle-east focused cases.

I need to begin with a strong foundation, basic knowledge about the core subjects so if my focus pivots as research progresses no time would have been lost and I can adjust my title accordingly.

Youtube video

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