Professor Emeritus William Schabas

Professor Emeritus

PhD

Biography

"Generalist in international human rights law and public international law more broadly, with a special interest in international criminal law and transitional justice."

William A. Schabas is a Professor Emeritus at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, Galway. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Middlesex in London and a professeur associé at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He is a ’door tenant’ at the chambers of 9 Bedford Row, London.

He is the author of more than 20 books and 300 journal articles, on such subjects as the abolition of capital punishment, genocide and the international criminal tribunals. His most recent book, The International Criminal Court: A Commentary on the Rome Statute , was published by Oxford University Press in 2010. His books have been translated into Chinese, German, Turkish, Japanese, Farsi, Nepali and Albanian. He is editor in chief of Criminal Law Forum . Professor Schabas was a member of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in Human Rights. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Royal Irish Academy and he has been awarded the Vespasian V. Pella Medal for International Criminal Justice of the Association internationale de droit penal.

Research

Research Interests

Genocide, capital punishment, European Convention on Human Rights, transitional justice, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, customary international law

Selected Publications

Genocide in International Law , 2 nd ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009, xix, 741 pp.


The International Criminal Court: A Commentary on the Rome Statute , Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, lxx, 1,259 pp.
Introduction to the International Criminal Court , 4 th ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011, xiii, 579 pp.

Research Publications

Books

Schabas, W.A. (2010) The International Criminal Court: A Commentary on the Rome Statute . : Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (2009) Genocide in International Law, 2nd ed . : Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (2008) War Crimes and Human Rights: Essays on the Death Penalty, Justice and Accountability . : London: Cameron May Publishers.

Schabas, W.A. (2008) Uluslararasi Ceza Mahkemesine Giri? [An Introduction to the International Criminal Court], Istanbul: Amnesty International Turkey, (Turkish trans., Güylay Arslan) .

Schabas, W.A. (2008) An Introduction to the International Criminal Court, Katmandu: FOHRID Human Rights and Democratic Forum (Nepali trans.) .

Schabas, W.A. (2008) The Abolition of the Death Penalty in International Law(Chinese trans. Zhao Haifeng) . : Beijing: Law Press China.

Schabas, W.A. (2007) International Human Rights Law and Canadian Law: Legal Commitment, Implementation and the Charter, 3rd ed (with Stéphane Beaulac) . : Toronto: Carswell.

Schabas, W.A. (2007) Introduction to the International Criminal Court, 3rd. ed . : Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (2006) The UN International Criminal Tribunals: the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone . : Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (2005) An Introduction to the International Criminal Court (Chinese trans. Huang Fang) . : Beijing: China State Security Publishing House.

Schabas, W.A. (2005) An Introduction to the International Criminal Court, Tehran: University of Tehran, (Persian trans. S.B. Mir Abassi) .

Schabas, W.A. (2004) Introduction to the International Criminal Court, 2nd ed . : Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (2003) Genozid im Völkerrecht (German trans. Holger Fliessbach) . : Hamburg: Hamburger Edition.

Schabas, W.A. (2003) Gjenocidi në të Drejtën Ndërkombëtare [Genocide in International Law], Pristina: Kosovo Centre for Human Rights . : Albanian trans. Enver Hasani and Bekim Sejdiu.

Schabas, W.A. (2002) Slobodan Milosevic on Trial: A Companion, New York & London: Continuum, (with Michael Scharf) .

Schabas, W.A. (2002) The Abolition of the Death Penalty in International Law, 3rd ed. (preface by Gilbert Guillaume, president of the International Court of Justice) . : Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (2001) Introduction to the International Criminal Court .

Schabas, W.A. (2000) Genocide in International Law . : Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (1999) Introduction au droit rwandais . : Montreal: Éditions Yvon Blais, (with Martin Imbleau).

Schabas, W.A. (1998) Les instruments internationaux, canadiens et québécois des droits et libertés, 2nd ed . : Cowansville: Éditions Yvon Blais, (with Daniel Turp).

Schabas, W.A. (1997) Introduction to Rwandan Law . : Montreal: Éditions Yvon Blais (with Martin Imbleau).

Schabas, W.A. (1997) The Abolition of the Death Penalty in International Law, 2nd ed (preface by Gilbert Guillaume, judge of the International Court of Justice) . : Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (1997) Précis du droit international des droits de la personne . : Montreal: Éditions Yvon Blais.

Schabas, W.A. (1996) The Death Penalty as Cruel Treatment and Torture: Capital Punishment Challenged in the World's Courts . : Boston: Northeastern University Press.

Schabas, W.A. (1996) International Human Rights Law and the Canadian Charter, 2nd ed . : Toronto: Carswell.

Schabas, W.A. (1995) Les infractions d'ordre sexuel . : Cowansville: Éditions Yvon Blais.

Schabas, W.A. (1994) Les instruments internationaux, canadiens et québécois des droits et libertés . : Cowansville: Éditions Yvon Blais, (with Daniel Turp).

Schabas, W.A. (1993) The Abolition of the Death Penalty in International Law (preface by Gilbert Guillaume, judge of the International Court of Justice) . : Cambridge: Grotius Publications.

Schabas, W.A. (1991) International Human Rights Law and the Canadian Charter . : Toronto: Carswell.

Schabas, W.A. (1990) Habeas Corpus, Montréal: Wilson & Lafleur .

 

Book Chapters

Schabas,W.A. 'The Federal Death Penalty and International Law'' In: Federal Sentencing Reporter .

Schabas,W.A. 'Convention de Vienne de 1986, Article 23, ProcŽdure relative aux rŽserves'' In: Corten,O; Klein,P (eds). Les Conventions de Vienne sur le droit des traitŽs, Commentaire article par article . Brussels: Bruylant, 2006(with Alain Pellet).

Schabas,W.A. 'National Security Interests and the Rights of the Accused'' In: Roggemann,H; Sarcevic,P (eds). National Security and International Criminal Justice . The Hague: Kluwer Law International.

Schabas,W.A. 'Prosecutor v. Semanza, Commentary'' In: Klip,A; Sluiter,G (eds). Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals, The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 2003 . Antwerp: Intersentia.

Schabas,W.A. 'Interpreting the Statutes of the Ad Hoc Tribunals' Man's Inhumanity to Man' In: Vohrah,L.C et al (eds). Essays on International law in Honour of Antonio Cassese . The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 2003.

Schabas,W.A. 'Study of the Right to Enjoy the Benefits of Scientific and Technological Progress and its Applications'' In: Donders,Y; Volodin,V (eds). Human Rights in Education, Science and Culture, Legal Developments and Challenges . Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing and UNESCO, 2007.

Schabas,W.A. ''Is Terrorism a Crime Against Humanity?' Terrorism, Victims and International Criminal Responsibility' In: Doucet,G; (eds). Paris: SOS Attentats, 2003 (with Cl?mentine Olivier).

Schabas,W.A. 'Penalties'' In: ibid . TMC Asser Press.

Schabas,W.A. 'Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Case - Bosnia v. Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro'' In: Wolfrum,R (eds). The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law . Oxford: Oxford University Press. http://online edition [www.mpepil.com].

Schabas,W.A. (2011) ''National amnesties, truth commissions and international criminal tribunals' In: Brown,B.S (eds). Research Handbook on International Criminal Law . MA: Edward Elgar.

Schabas,W.A. (2011) 'Criminology, Accountability, and International Justice'' In: Bosworth,M; Hoyle,C (eds). What is Criminology? . Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'Genocide in International Law and International Relations Prior to 1948'' In: Safferling,C; Conze,E (eds). The Genocide Convention Sixty Years After its Adoption . The Hague:TMC Asser.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'The Law and Genocide'' In: Bloxham,D; Moses,A.D (eds). The Oxford Handbook of Genocide Studies . Oxford University Press.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'International Criminal Law and the Business World'' In: Decaux,E (eds). La responsabilitŽ des entreprises multinationales en matire de droits de l'homme . Bruylant: Brussels.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'Judicial Activism and the Crime of Genocide'' In: Darcy,S; Powderly,J (eds). Judicial Creativity at the International Criminal Tri bunals . Oxford University Press.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'La peine de mort et la Convention europŽene des droits de l'homme'' In: Levinet,M (eds). Le droit au respect de la vie au sens de la Convention europ/enne des droits de l

 Peer Reviewed Journals

Schabas,W.A. 'Article 63''. ibid , :1191-1198.

Schabas,W.A. ''Article 12' (with Sharon Williams);'. ibid , :547-562.

Schabas,W.A. 'Brave New World The Role of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court''. Die Friedens-Warte , 83 (4):11-31.

Schabas,W.A. ''Article 67''. ibid , :1247-1274.

Schabas,W.A. ''The state of anti-Terrorist legislation in other Member States of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden)''. :219-239.

Schabas,W.A. 'The Crime of Torture and the International Criminal Tribunals''. reprinted in Andrea Bianchi, ed., Non-State Actors and International Law , .

Schabas,W.A. 'Enforcing international humanitarian law: Catching the accomplices''. International Review of the Red Cross , 82 :439-459.

Schabas,W.A. 'Enforcement of Sentences''. ibid , :310-311.

Schabas,W.A. ''ICC (Structure and Financing''. ibid , :350-352.

Schabas,W.A. 'Article 61''. ibid (with Kuniji Shaibahara) , .

Schabas,W.A. ''Article 23''. ibid , :731-734.

Schabas,W.A. 'La procŽdure pŽnale appliquŽe aux infractions terroristes : droit commun ou rŽgime particulier ?'. :113-133.

Schabas,W.A. 'First Report''. International Criminal Court Committee, in International Law Association, Report of the Seventy-First Conference , :295-320.

Schabas,W.A. 'Most Serious Crimesand the Imposition of Capital Punishment' (in Chinese)'. ibid , :56-67.

Schabas,W.A. 'International Law and the Death Penalty'(in Chinese)'. ibid , :255-260.

Schabas,W.A. ''Article 109''. ibid , :1677-1682.

Schabas,W.A. 'Article 108''. ibid , :1671-1676.

Schabas,W.A. 'What criminal procedure should govern terrorist offenses: ordinary or special rules?''. :81-95.

Schabas,W.A. 'Terrorisme : crime contre l'humanitŽ ?''. Terrorisme, victimes et responsabilitŽ internationale, Paris: Calmann-LŽvy, 2003 (with ClŽmentine Olivier) , :379-388.

Schabas,W.A. ''Public Opinion and the Death Penalty''. ibid , :118-136.

Stahn,C, Schabas,W.A. 'Legal Aspects of the Lubanga Case''. Criminal Law Forum , 19 (3):431-434.

Schabas,W.A. 'Irish Anti-Terrorist Legislation''. :202-210.

Schabas,W.A. ''La lŽgislation anti-terroriste au Royaume Uni''. :297-308.

Schabas,W.A. ''Article 76''. ibid , :1413-1418.

Schabas,W.A. ''Article 29''. ibid , :845-848.

Schabas,W.A. ''United Kingdom Anti-Terrorist Legislation''. :211-218.

Schabas,W.A. 'Problems of International Codification: Were the Atrocities in Cambodia and Kosovo Genocide?''. New England Law Review , 35 :287-302.

Schabas,W.A. 'Le Tribunal spŽcial pour le Liban : Fait-il partie de la catŽgorie de Ç certaines juridicstions pŽnales internationales'?, (2007) Revue quŽbŽcoise de droit international (Hors-sŽrie)'. :119-132.

Schabas,W.A. 'Genocide Law in a Time of Transition, Recent Developments in the Law of Genocide''. Rutgers Law Review , 61 :161-192.

Schabas,W.A. 'Article 66''. ibid , :1233-1246.

Schabas,W.A. 'Article 17''. ibid , :605-626.

Schabas,W.A. 'Article 13' (with Sharon Williams);'. ibid , :563-574.

Schabas,W.A. 'La lŽgislation anti-terroriste en Irlande''. :282-296.

Schabas,W.A. (2011) 'Article 6''. Le Pacte international relative aux droits civils et politiques, Commentaire article par articl , :179-199.

Schabas,W.A. (2011) 'Gaza, Goldstone and Lawfare''. Western Reserve Journal of International Law , 43 :307-312.

Schabas,W.A. (2011) 'Deuxieme Protocole facultatif se rapportant au Pacte international rlatif aux droits civils et politiques, visant ˆ abolir la peine de mort''. Le Pacte international relative aux droits civils et politiques, Commentaire article par article , :869-882.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'The International Criminal Court and Non-party States''. Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice , 28 :1-21.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'The Genocide Convention at 60' Le gŽnocide revisitŽ / Genocide Revisited, Athens: Ant. N. Sakkoulas, and Brussels: Bruylant'. :15-36.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'Prosecuting Dr Strangelove, Goldfinger, and the Joker at the International Criminal Court: Closing the Loopholes''. Leiden Journal Of International Law , 23 :847-853.

Schabas, WA (2010) 'Prosecuting Dr Strangelove, Goldfinger, and the Joker at the International Criminal Court: Closing the Loopholes'. Leiden Journal Of International Law , 23 :847-853.

Schabas,W.A. (2010) 'Victor's Justice: SelectingSituations' at the International Criminal Court''. John Marshall Law Review , 32 :535-552.

Schabas,W.A. (2009) 'Anti-Complementarity: Referral to National Jurisdictions by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda''. Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law , 13 :29-60.

Schabas,W.A. (2009) 'La politica de Estado como elemento de los crimenes internacionales''. Derecho PUCP , 63 :173-202.

Schabas,W.A. (2009) 'International Tribunals', Turki/Abo: Abo Akademi University Institute for Human Rights'. International Protection of Human Rights: A Textbook , :637-663.

Schabas,W.A. (2009) 'Definitional Traps' and Misleading Titles'. Genocide Studies and Prevention , 4 (2):177-183.

Schabas,W.A. (2009) 'International Human Rights and the Canadian Charter''. Supreme Court Law Review , 45 :297-322.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'State Policy as an Element of International Crimes''. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology , 98 (3):953-982.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'Origins of the Genocide Convention: From Nuremberg to Paris''. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law , 40 :35-55.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'International Law, the United States of America and Capital Punishment''. Transnational Law Review , 31 :377-418.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'International Sentencing: From Leipzig (1923) to Arusha (1996)''. International Criminal Law , III :613-634.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'Prosecutorial Discretion vs. Judicial Activism at the International Criminal Court''. Journal of International Criminal Justice , 6 (4):731-761.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'The Abolition of Capital Punishment from an International Law Perspective''. Death Sentence, A Struggle for Abolition, Essays in Honour of Padma Bhushan Dr. L.H. Hiranandani, Pune, India: Hyderabad Sind National Collegiate Board and Hind Law House , :79-104.

Mills,E.J, Volmink,J, Walker,R, Ford,N, Katabira,E, Anema,A, Joffres,M, Cahn,P,Montaner,J. (2008) 'Should active recruitment of health workers from sub-Saharan Africa be viewed as a crime?''. The Lancet , 371 :687-690.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'International Criminal Tribunals: A Review of 2007''. Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights , 6 :382-414.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'Human Rights, Accountability and Amnesty, with Particular Reference to the Case of Sierra Leone''. Zhongguo Fazhi Luncong (Chinese, trans. Wang Li-feng) , :319-336.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) ''Article 6''. Commentary on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Observers' Notes, Article by Article, 2nd ed., Munich: C.H. Beck, Hart Publishing, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH , :143-158.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'The Special Tribunal for Lebanon: Is a Tribunal of an International Character Equivalent to an International Criminal Court?'. Leiden Journal of International Law , 21 :513-528.

Schabas,W.A. (2008) 'Complementarity in Practice': Some Uncomplimentary Thoughts''. Criminal Law Forum , 19 :5-33.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Regions, Regionalism and International Criminal Law''. New Zealand Yearbook of International Law , 4 :3-24.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'House of Lords Prohibits Use of Torture Evidence, but Fails to Condemn Its Use by the Police''. International Criminal Law Review , 7 :133-142.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'The Role of International Law in the Reform and Abolition of the Death Penalty''. Criminal Law Review (in Chinese) , 13 :2-23.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Genocide and the International Court of Justice: Finally, a Duty to Prevent the Crime of Crimes'. Genocide Studies and Prevention , 2 (2):101-122.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Of Politics and Poor Weather: How Ireland Decided to Sue the United Kingdom Under the European Convention on Human Rights' (with Aisling O'Sullivan)'. Irish Yearbook of International Law , 2 :3-30.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Preventing the Odious Scourge: The United Nations and the Prevention of Genocide''. International Journal of Minority and Group Rights , 14 :379-397.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Lex specialis? Belt and Suspenders? The Parallel Operation of Human Rights Law and the Law of Armed Conflict, and the Conundrum of Jus ad bellum''. Israel Law Review , 40 :592-613.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Semantics or Substance: David Scheffer's Welcome Proposal to Strengthen Criminal Accountability for Atrocities''. Genocide Studies and Prevention , 2 :31-36.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Genocide and the International Court of Justice: Finally, A Duty to Prevent the Crime of Crimes''. International Studies Journal , 4 (8):17-64.

Schabas,W.A. (2007) 'Whither Genocide? The International Court of Justice Finally Pronounces''. Journal of Genocide Research , 9 :183-192.

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'Fair Trials and National Security Evidence''. International Commentary on Evidence Article 9 , 4 (1).

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'International Justice for International Crimes: An Idea whose Time Has Come''. European Review , 14 :412-439.

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'Preventing Genocide and Mass Killing: The Challenge for the United Nations''. Minority Rights Group International Report , .

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'First Prosecutions at the International Criminal Court''. Human Rights Law Journal , 25 :25-40.

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'Movement Toward World Wide Abolition of the Death Penalty''. Strengthening the Defence in Death Penalty Cases, Beijing: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (in Chinese) , :135-159.

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'La relation entre les Commissions VŽritŽ et les poursuites pŽnales : le cas de la Sierra Leone''. Les juridictions pŽnales internationalisŽes, Paris: SociŽtŽ de LŽgislation ComparŽe , :209-240.

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'Comisiones de la Verdad y Memoria''. El derecho a la memoria, Bilbao: Giza Eskubideak Derechos Humanos , :101-112.

Schabas,W.A. (2006) 'International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda''. The Global Community : Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence , 1 :641-654.

Schabas,W.A. (2005) 'La pratique des comitŽs conventionnels des Nations Unies en matire de measures conservatoires''. Mesures conservatoires et droits fondamentaux , :77-90.

Schabas,W.A. (2005) 'Genocide Trials and Gacaca Courts''. Journal of International Criminal Justice , 3 :879-895.

Schabas,W.A. (2005) 'Darfur and the Odious Scourge: The Commission of Inquiry's Findings on Genocide''. Journal of International Law Leiden , 18 :871-885.

Schabas,W.A. (2005) 'Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and Darfur: The Commission of Inquiry's Findings on Genocide''. Cardoza Law Review , 27 :101-119.

Schabas,W.A. (2005) 'War Economics, Economic Actors and International Criminal Law''. New Reports in Criminal Law, Beijing: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 2005 (in Chinese) , :485-499.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'A Synergistic Relationship: The Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone''. Criminal Law Forum , 15 :3-54.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity: How are they Related?''. International Criminal Court and Enlarging the Scope of International Humanitarian Law, Damascus: International Committee of the Red Cross/Damascus University Faculty of Law , :199-219.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'Conjoined Twins of Transitional Justice? The Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court''. Journal of International Criminal Justice , 2 :1082-1099.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'International Law, Politics, Diplomacy and the Abolition of the Death Penalty''. William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal , 13 :417-444.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'The Place of Victims in International Criminal Law' Quo Vadis ƒtudes Pžnales'. International Criminal Law , 19 :505-518.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'The International Legal Prohibition of Genocide Comes of Age''. Human Rights Review , 5 :46-56.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'Amnesty, the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone''. Davis Journal of International Law and Policy , 11 :145-169.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'Truth Commissions and Courts Working in Parallel: The Sierra Leone Experience''. Proceedings of the 98th Annual Meeting, American Society of International Law , :189-191.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'The Unfinished Work of Defining Aggression: How Many Times Must the Cannonballs Fly, Before They Are Forever Banned?''. The Permanent International Criminal Court, Legal and Policy Issues , :123-141.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) ''United States Hostility to the International Criminal Court: It's All About the Security Council''. European Journal of International Law , 15 :701-720.

Schabas,W.A. (2004) 'The Right fo a Fair Trial''. Essays on the Rome Statute of the ICC, Rome. Editrice il Sirente , II :241-284.

Schabas,W.A. (2003) 'La Cour pŽnale internationale: un survol du Statut de Rome''. Josiane Boulad-Ayoub & Luc Bonneville, SouverainetŽs en crise, Paris: L'Harmattan; QuŽbec: Les presses de l'UniversitŽ Laval , :335-364.

Schabas,W.A. (2003) 'Access to Justice: From National Movements to International Standards''. Global Law Review (in Chinese) , 23 :391-396.

Schabas,W.A. (2003) 'Indirect Abolition: Capital Punishment's Role in Extradition Law and Practice''. Loyola Los Angeles International & Comparative Law Review , 25 :581-604.

Teaching Areas

International criminal law; Genocide