Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court Delivers an “Unprecedented” Decision on War Crimes of Rape and Sexual Slavery

On June 15, 2017, the Appeals Chamber (AP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a unanimous decision it openly acknowledges as “unprecedented”, has held that a perpetrator can be convicted of a war crime even if his act does not violate international humanitarian law (IHL). Specifically, the Chamber has confirmed that the ICC has jurisdiction over rape and sexual slavery of children by members of an armed group against members of the same armed group; these crimes qualify as war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.