The Application of Grave Breaches at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is a hybrid court established to prosecute the senior leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) and those persons most responsible for the crimes committed between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979. Since its inception, the Court has tried five accused and convicted three accused, while three additional individuals have been investigated and charged with crimes but have not yet been tried. The subject-matter jurisdiction of the Court includes crimes against humanity (CAH), genocide, grave breaches of the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 (Geneva Conventions), and serious violations of the Cambodian Penal Code of 1956