New Legal Standard: Ignorance of Law No Longer an Excuse
Personal guilt is crucial in international criminal law, requiring a connection between the person and the crime. The ICC Statute does not always require awareness of the legal wrong, which differs from other legal systems. Punishing those who honestly but mistakenly believe their actions are lawful may be unfair. A broader view of personal guilt suggests a more flexible approach to mistakes of law, considering the reasonableness of the misconception.