Nuremberg principles Facts for Kids

The Nuremberg Principles are a set of rules that help decide what counts as a war crime or other serious international crimes. These rules were created by a group called the International Law Commission for the United Nations. Their goal was to write down the important legal ideas that came from the Nuremberg Trials. These trials happened after World War II to judge members of the Nazi party.

What Are the Nuremberg Principles?
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What Are the Nuremberg Principles?

The Nuremberg Principles explain who is responsible for serious international crimes and how they should be treated. They make it clear that certain actions are always wrong, no matter where they happen.

Principle I: Everyone is Responsible

This principle states that if someone does something that is a crime under international law, they are responsible for it. They can be punished for their actions.

Principle II: National Laws Don't Excuse Crimes

Even if a country's own laws don't punish a certain act, if that act is a crime under international law, the person who did it is still responsible. A country's laws cannot make an international crime okay.

Principle III: Leaders Are Not Above the Law

This principle means that even if someone is a leader of a country or a high-ranking government official, they are still responsible for their actions. Being a leader does not protect them from being held accountable under international law.

Principle IV: Following Orders Is Not Always an Excuse

If a person commits an international crime because their government or a superior told them to, they are still responsible. This is true if they had a choice to say no.

Before the Nuremberg Trials, this idea was sometimes called "Superior Orders". After the trials, it became known as the "Nuremberg Defense". More recently, people also use the term "lawful orders" for this idea.

Principle V: The Right to a Fair Trial

Anyone accused of an international crime has the right to a fair trial. This means they get a chance to present their side and have their case judged fairly based on the facts and the law.

Principle VI: Defining International Crimes

This principle lists the types of crimes that are punishable under international law:

Crimes Against Peace

This includes planning, preparing, starting, or fighting a war of aggression. This means starting a war without a good reason or breaking international agreements about peace. It also includes being part of a plan to do any of these things.

War Crimes

These are actions that break the rules or customs of war. Examples include:

Killing or treating civilians badly.
Forcing civilians into slave labor.
Killing or treating prisoners of war badly.
Killing hostages.
Stealing public or private property.
Destroying cities, towns, or villages without a military reason.

Crimes Against Humanity

These are terrible acts done against any civilian population. They include:

Murder.
Extermination (killing many people).
Enslavement.
Deportation (forcing people to leave their homes).
Other inhumane acts.
Persecution (treating people badly) because of their political beliefs, race, or religion. These acts are crimes if they are connected to a crime against peace or a war crime.

Principle VII: Being Involved in a Crime Is Also a Crime

This principle states that helping or being involved in a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity (as described in Principle VI) is also a crime under international law.

Nuremberg principles facts for kids

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