The role of the International Criminal Court in the crime of starvation of civilians during armed conflicts

Abstract

Abstract: The crime of deliberately using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is recognized as a crime under international law, specifically in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Although there are legal options to hold individuals accountable for deliberate starvation, there has been a lack of investigation and accountability for those who violate international law in cases of famine caused by military actions and authoritarian policies. In addition, there is an ongoing debate about whether criminalizing intentional starvation as a method of warfare can be considered a rule of customary international law, allowing for accountability in states not party to the Rome Statut.