International crimes appear as mass crimes. To overcome the dangers to human dignity and global stability, an international response is inescapable. It is clear that the above-mentioned crimes are diverse. It seems appropriate to review war crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of genocide and the crime of aggression. The crime of terrorism will not be analyzed in depth. There can be no doubt that criminal justice bodies play a pivotal role in the implementation of human rights and international humanitarian law.

or by agreement between the UN and a state in crisis. Composite in nature, they can be divided into three categories: the first concerns ad hoc tribunals (the ICTY, the ICTR and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals), the second covers hybrid tribunals (the SCSL and the STL) and the third includes the chambers set up in Kosovo and East Timor.

The first two categories need to be examined, with particular reference to the Security Council's power to establish, operate and neutralize the above-mentioned repressive bodies.

Per se, it should not be forgotten that ad hoc and hybrid tribunals are ephemeral jurisdictions on the grounds that their jurisdiction is circumscribed.