International Humanitarian Law lays down detailed rules designed to protect the victims or armed conflict and to limit method and means of warfare. This body of law also provide for mechanisms to ensure that these rules are respected, a particularly important one being the repression of violations. Under international humanitarian law, people who commit violations, or order violations to be committed, must be brought to trail and punished wherever they may be.
The starting point for preparation of the Guide was a meeting of experts held by the International Committee of the Red cross (ICRC) to discuss, and foster the development of national law for the prosecution and punishment of individuals alleged to have committed violations of International Law. 

Table of Contents
Part 1
Meeting of Experts on National Measures to Punish Violations of International Humanitarian Law
Chapter 1
Introduction to the Guide ........................................................................P. 19
1.1 Introduction .....................................................................................P. 19
1.2 Information about the Guide ..............................................................P. 20
1.3 Implementation of International Humanitarian Law and the ICRC Advisory Service .................................................................................................P. 21
1.4 Key Points Made in Speaker’s Presentations ..........................................P. 23
Part 2
State Responsibility to Punish Violations of International crimes at the National Level .....................................................................................................P. 29
Chapter 2
2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................P. 29
2.2 Obligation to Punish Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Arms Control Treaties ......................................................................................P. 30
2.3 Punishment of Genocide, Torture and Crimes Against Humanity ...............P. 34
2.4 International and National Criminal Justice Systems ................................p. 36
Chapter 3
Jurisdiction over International Crimes ........................................................p. 39
3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................P. 39
3.2 The Principle of Universal Jurisdiction ...................................................P. 40
3.3 Universal Jurisdiction over War Crimes .................................................P. 41
3.4 Universal Jurisdiction over Genocide, Torture and Crimes against Humanity .............................................................................................................P. 43
Part 3 Individual Responsibility for International Crimes
Chapter 4
Responsibility for International Crimes .......................................................P. 49
4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................P. 59
4.2 General Principles of Criminal Responsibility in International Law ..............P. 50
4.3 Mental Element (men rea) ...................................................................P. 53
4.4 Defences and Immunities in International Law .......................................P. 54
Part 4
National Enforcement of International Law: Punishment of International Crimes in Common Law States
Chapter 5
Punishing International Crimes at the National Level ....................................P. 59
5.1 Introduction P. 59
5.2 Punishing Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Arms Control Treaties under National Law .....................................................................P. 60
5.3 Punishing Genocide, Torture and Crimes against Humanity under National Law ..............................................................................................................P. 67
5.4 Providing for Universal Jurisdiction in National Law .................................P. 68
Chapter 6
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols: Incorporation in the Domestic Law of Common Law States. .......................................................P. 71
6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................P. 71
6.2 Geneva conventions Acts
6.2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................P. 71
6.2.2 Provisions of a typical Geneva Convention Act ....................................P. 72
6.3 Guidelines for Drafting a Geneva Convention Act ...................................P. 73
6.3.1 Introduction to the Modern Act and Guidelines ....................................P. 73
6.3.2 Modifications to the model Act ..........................................................P. 73
Chapter 7
Jurisdiction of Military Law and Courts over War Crimes ..............................P. 113
7.1 Introduction .....................................................................................P. 113
7.2 Military Law and Jurisdiction of Military Tribunals ..................................P. 114
7.3 Military Offences ...............................................................................P. 116
7.4 Jurisdiction over Civil Offences Possible Conflict between Civil and Military Authorities ............................................................................................P. 118
7.5 Law Applicable to Prisoners of war ......................................................P. 122
Part 3
Bringing a Case to Trail
Chapter 8
Bringing a Case to Trail – Criminal Proceedings .........................................P. 127
8.1 Introduction .....................................................................................p. 127
8.2 Decision in Prosecute ........................................................................p. 128
8.3 Mutual Assistance .............................................................................p. 130
8.4 Preparing the Case – Question of Evidence ...........................................p. 132
8.5 Judicial guarantees in International Humanitarian Law ...........................p. 134
Part 6
Conclusion
Chapter 9 Conclusion ..............................................................................p. 138