The Role of The Martens Clause in Codification and Criminalization of International Crimes

The Martens Clause is undoubtedly one of the fundamental provisions of contemporary legal order of the international community. In addition to other areas of international law, international criminal law has been an arena for the presence and objective impact of the Martens Clause and its constituent elements.The formulation of the Martens Clause of the principle of humanity and the requirements of public conscience as a determining point for entry into the international law documents, has formed part of the idea of international crimes, because these two related elements that are threatened by the commission of crimes, are an important part of the protected areas which justifies the existence of a crime under international criminal law. this article shows how the principle of humanity and public conscience resulting from the Martens Clause have played a role in the codification and formation of international crimes, especially crimes against humanity and genocide. Following the legal doctrine, international documents and jurisprudence, we conclude that by legal acceptance and an extensive and protective judicial interpretation of criminal court, the Clause has played a key role in criminalizing international crimes and attacks on human values. In fact, the culmination of the Clause in international criminal law has been manifested in filling legal gaps,combating impunity,immunity of perpetrators in international arena, and prosecuting those who violate human values