Article28

Responsibilityofcommandersandothersuperiors
InadditiontoothergroundsofcriminalresponsibilityunderthisStatutefor
crimeswithinthejurisdictionoftheCourt:

(a)Amilitarycommanderorpersoneffectivelyactingasamilitarycommander
shallbecriminallyresponsibleforcrimeswithinthejurisdictionoftheCourt
committedbyforcesunderhisorhereffectivecommandandcontrol,oreffective
authorityandcontrolasthecasemaybe,asaresultofhisorherfailuretoexercise
controlproperlyoversuchforces,where:

(i)Thatmilitarycommanderorpersoneitherknewor,owingtothe
circumstancesatthetime,shouldhaveknownthattheforceswerecommittingor
abouttocommitsuchcrimes;and(ii)Thatmilitarycommanderorpersonfailed
totakeallnecessaryandreasonablemeasureswithinhisorherpowertopreventor
represstheircommissionortosubmitthemattertothecompetentauthoritiesfor
investigationandprosecution.
(b)Withrespecttosuperiorandsubordinaterelationshipsnotdescribedin
paragraph(a),asuperiorshallbecriminallyresponsibleforcrimeswithinthe
jurisdictionoftheCourtcommittedbysubordinatesunderhisorhereffective
authorityandcontrol,asaresultofhisorherfailuretoexercisecontrolproperly
oversuchsubordinates,where:

(i)Thesuperioreitherknew,orconsciouslydisregardedinformationwhich
clearlyindicated,thatthesubordinateswerecommittingorabouttocommitsuch
crimes;(ii)Thecrimesconcernedactivitiesthatwerewithintheeffective
responsibilityandcontrolofthesuperior;and(iii)Thesuperiorfailedtotakeall
necessaryandreasonablemeasureswithinhisorherpowertopreventorrepress
theircommissionortosubmitthemattertothecompetentauthoritiesfor
investigationandprosecution.
Article33
Superiorordersandprescriptionoflaw
1.ThefactthatacrimewithinthejurisdictionoftheCourthasbeen
committedbyapersonpursuanttoanorderofaGovernmentorofasuperior,
whethermilitaryorcivilian,shallnotrelievethatpersonofcriminalresponsibility
unless:

(a)ThepersonwasunderalegalobligationtoobeyordersoftheGovernmentor

thesuperiorinquestion;(b)Thepersondidnotknowthattheorderwas
unlawful;and(c)Theorderwasnotmanifestlyunlawful.
2.Forthepurposesofthisarticle,orderstocommitgenocideorcrimes
againsthumanityaremanifestlyunlawful.