The Martens clause in International Criminal Law; the Nature and Interpretive Functions

Friedrich Van Marts, the representative of the Russian government, in the first Hague Peace Conference of 1899, stated that until a regular rule of war is compiled, the Contracting States would agree that in cases not included by the ratified provisions, civilian and hostile populations will continue to be protected by the principles of the rights of nations derived from established customs among civilized nations are considered as the principles of humanity and the call of public conscience. This statement, which became famous in the literature of international law as the Martens clause, has had objective effects in international criminal law. International criminal courts have resorted to the Martens Clause on various occasions. It can be stated by analyzing the verdicts and opinions of international criminal courts that the Martens Clause, generally in international law and international criminal law in particular has different capacities and functions. It is not easy to distinguish between these roles. Whether citing the Martens Clause is in line with the role of fixing problems or interpreting an ambiguous rule, or merely strengthening the court’s legal arguments is not very convincing and without controversy; since, the type of attitude towards the Martens Clause determines the identification of its effect in international criminal law. The present article by searching in the international judicial procedure, concludes that the role of interpretation and clearing (elimination) the ambiguity and obscurity of legal have had a special effect on the citation of international criminal courts on the Martens Clause. These various capabilities and capacities of the Martens Clause cause human society to use it constantly and as needed to achieve the desired situation and transition from the existing situation. Based on this, we have observed various objective functions of the Martens clause in international criminal law, and this process will continue in the future.