The First Verdict by the International Criminal Court

Ten years after its establishment, the International Criminal Court has issued its first verdict. In the case of Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) unanimously found Lubanga guilty, as a co-perpetrator, of the war crimes of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities in the context of an armed conflict not of an international character. This war crime is punishable under Article 8(2)(e)(vii) of the Rome Statute with a sentence of not more than 30 years. The case now moves to the sentencing phase.